Shelf.. 


PRINCETON,  N.  J- 


Green,  Ashbel ,  1762-1848. 
Presbyterian  missions 

BV  2570  .G74 
(^re^c^r\        AQhhpl    17fiP-1ft4.ft. 


Of  this  large-paper  edition  three  hundred  copies  have 
been  printed. 


No. 


PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS 


BY 

ASHBELtiREEN,   D.D.,   LL.D. 


WITH  SUPPLEMENTAL   NOTES 


JOHN  C.   LOWRIE 


NEW  YORK 
ANSON  D  F.  RANDOLPH  &  COMPANY 

(incorporated^ 
182    FIFTH    AVENUE 


Copyright,  1893,  by 

Anson  D.  F.  Randolph  &-  Company, 

(Incorporated). 


PRESS  OF 

EDWARD  O.  JENKINS'  SON, 

NEW  YORK. 


PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS 


ADVERTISEMENT— NOTE. 

The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Cburcli,  at  their  meeting  in  Baltimore,  in  October  and 
November,  1837,  passed  the  following  resolution,  viz. : 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Green  be  requested  to 
draw  up  a  history  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  operations 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  to  be 
published  by  the  Executive  Committee,  with  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  Board." 

"When  the  duty  assigned  by  the  foregoing  resolution 
came  to  be  performed,  it  was  found  on  examination, 
that  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missions  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church  had  not  only  been  conducted  by  the  same 
agencies,  but  that,  to  some  extent,  they  had  been  mingled 
together.  A  compendious  view  of  both,  was  therefore 
determined  on,  as  stated  in  the  introduction  to  the 
Sketch. 

Institutions  established  or  conducted  mainly  by  asso- 
ciations or  individuals,  not  immediately  connected  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  when  mentioned  at  all,  have 
received  but  a  cursory  and  summary  notice.  Their 
operations  have  not  been  traced,  although  carried  on  in 
concert  with  members  of  the  Presbyterian  denomina- 
tion. Institutions  characteristically  Presbyterian  have 
been  regarded  as  the  only  proper  subjects  of  anything 
like  historical  detail.  Nor  has  it  been  considered  as 
consistent  with  the  plan  adopted,  to  mention  such  of 
these  as  were  known  to  have  had  no  other  than  a  very 

(V) 


Vi  ADVERTISEMENT— NOTE. 

brief  existence,  or  a  very  limited  action.  If  any  socie- 
ties having  a  just  claim  to  be  noticed  in  this  compend- 
ious view,  have  been  altogether  omitted,  the  writer  can 
only  say,  that  they  have  escaped  inquiries,  made  as 
extensively  and  diligently  as  his  time  and  means  of  in- 
formation would  permit. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  readers  of  this  Sketch  will  keep 
in  mind  that  its  natm-e  forbade  much  enlargement.  It 
had  been  easier  for  the  author  to  compose  a  much  larger 
work,  than  to  condense  his  materials,  after  he  had  col- 
lected them,  into  the  necessary  compass.  Probably 
some  will  think  that  equal  justice  has  not  been  done  to 
the  numerous  institutions  that  have  been  brought  under 
review.  This  will  not  be  fairly  attributed  to  partiality 
in  the  writer — it  is  owing  solely  to  the  fact,  that  after 
much  research  he  could  obtain  but  scanty  materials  for 
some  articles,  while  for  others  his  materials  were  abun- 
dant, and  near  at  hand.  He  is  sensible  of  the  defects 
of  his  work,  but  with  all  its  imperfections  he  hopes  it 
may  be  useful. 

As  this  Sketch  could  not  be  submitted  to  the  Board 
of  Missions,  and  as  the  larger  part  of  it  has  not  been 
seen  even  by  the  Executive  Committee,  it  is  to  be  dis- 
tinctly understood,  that  the  writer  alone  is  responsible 
for  the  statements  it  contains. — A.  G. 

[Dr.  Green's  History  has  long  been  out  of  print,  and 
no  book  supplies  its  place.  It  contains  valuable  Infor- 
mation, collected  from  many  sources,  to  the  year  1838. 
Its  author,  one  of  the  eminent  among  our  American 
clergymen,  was  born  at  Hanover,  N.  J.,  July  6,  1Y62. 
He  graduated  at  Princeton  College  with  the  first  honors, 
under  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  in  1783,  and 
yielded  to  his  preceptor's  urgent  counsel  to  accept  the 


ADVERTISEMENT— NOTE.  yii 

call  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church,  Philadelphia. 
His  ministry  in  this  church  was  greatly  blessed,  and  attend- 
ed with  special  revivals  of  religion.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  was  the  pastor  of  this  large  and  influential  congre^^a- 
tion  ;  and  then,  with  the  deep  regret  of  both  parties,  re- 
signing its  charge,  he  accepted  the  Presidency  of  Prince- 
ton College.  At  the  end  of  ten  years,  on  retiring  from 
active  pubHc  services,  he  became  the  author  of  valuable 
books  and  the  editor  for  twelve  years  of  a  monthly  re- 
ligious magazine,  the  Christian  Advocate.  In  some  of 
his  latter  years  he  preached  to  a  small  congregation  of 
colored  people  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  always  an  earn- 
est and  eflicient  friend  of  Missions.  A  personal  inter- 
view with  him  in  1833  called  forth  expressions  of  deep 
sympathy  with  this  cause.  He  departed  this  life  May 
17,  1848. 

This  book  is  here  reprinted  as  it  left  the  author's 
pen,  with  a  few  omissions  specified  where  they  occur, 
and  with   some    changes   not    affecting   its    meaning' 
such  as  the  transfer  of  foot-notes,  in  some  cases  to  the 
text,  and  the  removal  of  his  Appendix  to  its  intended 
place,   at   page   215.      Corrections   or   omissions   have 
been  made  in  extracts  quoted  from  Annual  Reports, 
rendered  proper  by  later  information.     The  Supplemen- 
tal Xotes,  distinguished   by  brackets  [  ],  are   inserted 
usually  at  the  dates  of  the  narrative  or  the  suggestions 
of  the  subject ;  and  sometimes  witiiout  close  connection 
with  the   original   text,  but  still   in  keeping  with   its 
purpose.     These  W'otes  have  been  gathered  chiefly  from 
many  volumes  published,  or  which  have  become  acces- 
sible, since  the  year  1838 ;  but  in  some  instances  they 
have   been   derived   from  personal   knowledge.     They 
sometimes   refer   to   matters  of  later   date,  connected 
with  preceding  events  or  subjects. 


VIU  ADVERTISEMENT— NOTE. 

The  plan  of  this  History  includes  three  periods,  viz. : 
First,  from  1741  to  1838,  embraciDg  Domestic  and 
Foreign  Missions,  both  then  conducted  under  the  same 
direction — that  of  the  General  Assembly,  or  by  some  of 
the  Synods.     This  part  is  treated  of  in  this  volume. 

Second,  from  1839  to  1869.     Third,  from  1870  to . 

The  narratives  of  the  two  latter  periods  will  relate  only 
to  Foreign  Missions.  They  may  not  soon  be  ready  for 
the  press ;  but  the  first  volume  admits  of  being  separately 
published.  The  occasion  of  preparing  it  is  found  in  the 
Minute  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  of  February 
16,  1891.  This  kind  Minute  was  understood  by  the 
Editor  to  include  a  transfer  from  routine  to  special  work, 
as  Providence  might  indicate.  Any  pecuniary  avails 
that  may  reach  him  from  this  book  will,  as  heretofore, 
go  to  the  cause  of  Missions. 

J.  C.  L. 

New  York,  53  Fifth  Avenue,  December,  1892.] 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction 1 

Domestic  Missions 2 

Presbyterian  Church  always  a  missionary  church 3 

Virginia  and  the  Carolinas  early  regarded  as  missionary 
ground 3 

Collections  annually  taken  up  in  the  Churches,  by  order  of 
the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  in  17C6,  to  aid 

in  sending  the  Gospel  to  destitute  places 4 

The  General  Assembly  constituted  1788,  and  met  the  first 
time  at  Philadelphia,  May,  1789 4 

Vigorous  measures  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly  to 
raise  funds  for  the  missionary  cause,  1800 5 

Standing  Committee  of  Missions  appointed  in  1802 6 

Circular  addressed  to  every  Protestant  Missionary  Society 
known  in  Europe 7 

Missionary  operations  among  the  African  race  in  the  South- 
ern section  of  our  country 7 

Services  performed  by  the  lamented  John  H.  Rice,  D.D. . .      8 

Synod  of  Virginia  instrumental  in  forming  Presbyterian 
churches  in  Kentucky 9 

Synod  of  Pittsburgh  efficiently  engaged  in  sustaining  For- 
eign and  Domestic  Missions 9 

Monthly  periodical  issued  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 

General  Assembly 9 

Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  New  Jersey, 
formed  in  1800.  Its  organization  independent  of  the 
General  Assembly 9 

Board  of  Missions  of  the  General  Assembly,  constituted 

in  1816 10 

Formation  of  Missionary  Societies  auxiliary  to  the  General 

Assembly's  Board  recommended  10 

Duties  of  Secretary  and  General  Agent  of  the  Board  of 
Missions  performed  by  a  few  of  the  members,  amidst  pas- 
toral and  other  engagements 11 

(ix) 


X  COi^'TENTS. 

Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  of  New  York,  formed 
1815 11 

New  York  Evangelical  Missionary  Society,  instituted 
about  1816 12 

United  Domestic  Missionary  Society,  formed  by  the  union 
of  the  Young  Men's  Missionary   Society  and  the   New 

York  Evangelical  3Iissionary  Society 12 

Meeting  of  delegates  from  different  States  of  New-England 
held  at  Boston,  in  1826,  to  form  a  General  Society  for 
Domestic  Missions 13 

American  Home  Missionary  Society,  instituted  May,  1826. .     14 
Refusal  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society  to  co- 
operate with  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions.       14 
Resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1837,  recommending 
the  discontinuance  of  the  operations  of  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society  and  the  American  Education 

Society  within  the  Presbyterian  Church 15 

The  organization  of  a  Philadelphia  Missionary  and  other 
Presbyterian  Missionary  Societies  in  the  city  and  liberties 

of  Philadelphia 17 

Pennsylvania  Missionary  Society,  formed  1826 18 

Re-organization  op  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  1828 19 

FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS 22 

Indian  Mission  on  Long  Island,  the  first  heathen  mission 

instituted  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 23 

Second  mission  under  Rev.  David  Brainerd 24 

Mission  to  Indians  in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  eastern  New 

York,  and  New  Jersey 24 

Rev.  John  Brainerd  succeeds  his  brother 28 

New  York  Missionary  Society,  organized  1796 30 

Transfer  of  all  their  missions  to  the  United  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society 31 

Northern  Missionary  Society,  organized  1797 31 

Mission  to  the  Cherokee  Indians 32 

Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn  engaged  as  a  missionary 33 

Efforts  to  establish  schools  among  the  Cherokees 33 

Letter  from  Rev.  G.  Blackburn  on  the  progress  of  civiliza- 
tion among  the  Indians 84 


CONTENTS.  XI 

Mission  amokq  the  Wyaxdot  Indians 35 

Mission  at  Cornplanter's  Town 36 

Mission  at  Lewistown,  Ohio 38 

United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  instituted  1818 38 

Their  operations  countenanced  and  patronized  by  the  gen- 
eral government 40 

The  Two  Osage  Missions 43 

The  want  of  success  in  this  mission  induces  its  final  aban- 
donment   43 

The  Cattaraugus  Mission 44 

Encouraging  circumstances  connected  with  it 45 

The  Mackinaw  Mission 45 

The  Haytien  Mission 46 

The  Tcscarora  Mission 47 

The  Seneca  Mission 49 

Legislature  of  New  York  reject  a  petition  praying  for  the 

residence  of  ministers  of  the  Gospel  on  Indian  lands 49 

The  Fort  Gratiot  Mission 50 

The  Maumee  Mission 50 

Proceedings  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  in  relation  thereto.  51 

Report  on  the  state  of  the  ^laumee  school 52 

Remarks  on  tlie  transfer  of  the  missions  of  the  United  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  to  the  American  Board 54 

Reasons  adduced  in  favor  of  this  union 55 

Remarks  on  the  preceding  reasons 58 

Action  of  the  General  Assembly  and  Synod  of  the  Reformed 

Dutch  Church,  on  the  subject  of  the  amalgamation 60 

Report  and  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly 63 

Mission  among  the  CnicKASAw  Indians,  the  only  one  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,   not  transferred   to  the  American 

Board 65 

Chickasaw  Mission  under  the  supervision  of  the  Synod  of 

South  Carolina  and  Georgia 65 

Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions  authorized  by  the  General 

Assembly 84 

Mission  to  Buenos  Atres  85 

Resolution  of  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions 

rendering  assistance  to  this  mission 87 

Cause  of  failure 88,  89 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

Concluding  remarks  on  the  different  sentiments  existing  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  on  the  most  eligible  method  of 
prosecuting  Foreign  Missions 89 

WESTEnN  Foreign  Missionary  Society  formed  m  Novem- 
ber, 1831 101 

Circular  letter  issued  by  this  Society 101 

Formation  of  the  Society 103 

Extracts  from  the  Life  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Barr,  one  of 


its  missionaries 


112 


Missions  and  missionaries  under  the  care  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society 112 

Mission  to  Western  Africa 114 

Ordination  of  Missionaries 114 

Death  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Barr,  one  of  the  missionaries 

destined  for  Africa 115 

Embarkation  of  Missionaries 116 

Their  arrival  at  Monrovia  116 

Death  of  Mr.  Cloud  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laird 117 

The  state  of  the  African  Mission 130 

Mission  to  Northern  India 126 

Embarkation  and  arrival  of  the  Missionaries 127 

Death  of  Mrs.  Lowrie 128 

Death  of  Mr.  Reed 142 

Reinforcement  of  the  Mission  by  the  arrival  of  several  Mis- 
sionaries   143 

Mr.  Lowrie  has  permission  to  return  to  the  United  States  to 

recruit  his  health •  •  •  •  1^6 

Details  of  the  three  missionary  stations  in  Northern  India. .  163 

Mission  to  the  Western  Indians 165 

The  Iowa  Mission 169 

Details  of  the  Wea  and  louia  stations 171 

Mission  to  Smyrna I'l 

Mission  to  China 1 '  ^ 

Interesting  statement  relative  to  the  progress  of  casting 

types  of  the  Chinese  characters 175 

Projected  or  Prospective  Missions 179 

Indian  Tribes 1^^ 

Mission  TO  Calcutta 1^2 

The  Foreign  Missionary  Chronicle 184 


CONTENTS.  xiii 

Transfer  of  the  "Western  Foreign  Missionary  SocreTT..  189 
Proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1835,  in  relation  to 

the  transfer 190 

Report  of  a  Committee  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1836. . .  190 
Terms  of  agreement  between  the  Committee  of  the  General 

Assembly  and  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh 192 

Report  of  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  1836,  to  review  the  whole  case,  and  present  it  to  the 

consideration  of  the  Assembly 195 

Proceedings  of  the  Assembly  on  the  report,  and  final  rejec- 
tion thereof 200 

Transactions  in  General  Assembly  of  1837 221 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  overture  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Salem,  on  the  subject  of  foreign  missions,  and  of 
"The   Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 

Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  " 221 

Directors  for  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  appointed 223 

First  meeting  of  the  Board  held  October,  1837 226 

Proceedings  of  the  AVestcrn  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  at 

its  last  Meeting,  May,  1837 214 

Concluding  Remarks 229 

1.  The  importance  of  sustaining  our  missionary  operations 

on  right  principles,  and  from  right  motives 230 

2.  Before  the  world  shall  be  converted  to  God,  there  must 

be  a  practical  conviction  that  it  is  the  power  of  God 
alone,  working  on  the  minds  of  the  heathen,  that  can 
ever  change  them 232 

3.  Dependence  on  God  for  the  success  of  missions  ought 

not  to  diminish,  but  increase,  the  means  and  exertions 
that  are  used  to  produce  this  effect 235 

4.  Faithful  missionaries  ought  to  be  "  esteemed  very  highly 

in  love  for  their  work's  sake,"  and  every  reasonable  pro- 
vision made  for  their  support  in  foreign  lands 239 

5.  We  ought  not  to  calculate  that  great  and  speedy  success 

will  follow  our  missionary  enterprises 239 

6.  Strict  economy  ought  to  be  observed  in  the  use  of  funds 

in  managing  the  missionary  concerns  at  home 240 

ArrKNDiCES . .   . .  243 

I.  Presbyterian  ^lissionaries 243 

II.  Books  of  Reference 246 

Index  of  ScrrLEMENXARY  Notes 247 


A   HISTORICAL   SKETCH 

OF 

PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 


INTEODCrCTIOK 

THE  propagation  of  tlie  Gospel  in  North  America 
possessed,  essentially,  the  character  of  a  Missionary 
enterprise.  Its  propagators  when  they  fled  from  perse- 
cution in  the  land  of  their  fathers,  had  it  in  view,  not 
only  to  be  able  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates 
of  their  consciences,  free  from  molestation,  but  to  trans- 
mit the  Gospel  in  its  purity  to  their  descendants,  and  to 
other  emigrants,  in  all  succeeding  generations;  and  they 
also  hoped  to  impart  its  blessings  to  the  Pagan  tribes, 
who  inhabited  the  wilderness  in  which  they  sought  an 
abode.  As  introductory,  therefore,  to  a  brief  "  History 
of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Operations  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  United  States,"  it  is  proposed  to 
take  a  rapid  survey  of  the  Missions  of  this  Church 
among  the  descendants  of  Europeans  ;  and  to  follow  it 
by  a  narrative,  more  in  detail,  of  missionary  operations, 
among  the  aborigines  of  our  own  country,  and  among 
the  heathen  of  foreign  lands.  It  is  believed  that  the 
present  will  not  be  considered  as  an  unfit  occasion  for 
the  survey  contemplated  ;  nor  prove  unwelcome  to  those 
who  take  an  interest  in  the  concerns  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  many  of  whom  are  almost  wholly  unacquainted 
with  its  missionary  history. 


DOMESTIC  MISSIONS. 

THE  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  was  the  first  that 
existed  on  the  American  continent,  and  was  formed, 
as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  in  the  year  1704.  Its 
clerical  members  were  emigrants  from  Scotland  and  Ire- 
land, with  one  individual  from  New  England,  They 
were,  with  a  single  exception,  almost  wholly  destitute  of 
property ;  and  the  people  to  whom  they  ministered,  be- 
ing like  themselves  in  poverty,  and  struggling  for  sub- 
sistence in  a  wilderness  land,  could  contribute  but  a  pit- 
tance to  the  support  of  their  pastors. 

In  these  circumstances,  little  more  could  be  done  for 
spreading  the  Gospel,  than  to  proclaim  its  truths  and 
administer  its  ordinances,  among  the  inhabitants  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  preachers.  But  in  this  field  of  operation, 
the  labors  of  the  fathers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
were  most  exemplary.  It  may  be  questioned  whether 
any  missionaries,  in  more  recent  times,  have  made 
greater  exertions  to  carry  the  Gospel  to  the  destitute,  or 
have  endured  more  hardships  in  doing  it,  than  were  ex- 
hibited by  these  venerable  and  devoted  men.  They  not 
only  preached  to  the  peojDle  to  whom  they  sustained  the 
pastoral  relation,  but  extended,  as  far  as  possible,  their 
excursions  of  benevolence  into  the  adjacent  regions ;  and 
this  without  any  pecuniary  compensation  or  facilities  of 
travelling.  The  affecting  cries  of  the  destitute  came  to 
them  at  every  meeting  of  their  Presbytery,  as  well  as 
at  their  individual  abodes ;  and  the  efforts  which  they 
made  to  relieve  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  supphants, 
were  neither  few  nor  feeble, 
(2) 


DOMESTIC   MISSIONS.  3 

In  process  of  time,  wlien  the  Presbytery  was  enlarged 
into  a  Synod,  and  a  small  fund  was  obtained  to  aid  the 
operations,  and  partially  to  relieve  the  pressing  neces- 
sities of  its  members,  missionary  services  were  extended 
to  places  more  remote.  It  was  in  this  way  that  Presby- 
terian churches  were  planted,  not  only  in  the  British 
colonies  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  but  also  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  in  North  and  South  Carolina.  The  Presby- 
terian Church  has,  in  fact,  been  always  a  Missionary 
Church  ;  and  to  her  being  such,  is  to  be  attributed, 
under  the  blessing  of  God,  her  rapid  increase  and  her 
present  wide  extension.  In  a  period  of  little  more  than 
a  hundred  and  thirty  years,  this  Church,  embracing  at 
first  but  six  or  seven  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  has  located 
congregations,  with  their  pastors,  through  a  region  ex- 
tending from  Canada,  on  the  North,  to  Florida,  in  the 
South,  and  from  the  Atlantic,  on  the  East,  to  parts  be- 
yond the  Mississippi,  in  the  "West ;  and  now  consists  of 
nineteen  S^-nods,  one  hundred  and  six  Presbyteries,  and 
nearly  two  thousand  ordained  ministers ;  between  two 
and  three  hundred  licentiates ;  more  than  two  hundred 
and  forty  candidates  for  the  Gospel  ministry  ;  and  not 
less  than  two  thousand  churches.  Of  the  detail  of  her 
Domestic  Missions,  only  the  most  cursory  view  can  now 
be  taken. 

It  has  already  been  stated,  that  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas  were  early  regarded  as  missionary  ground ; 
and  we  now  add,  that  they  continued  to  be  thus  re- 
garded, till  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
of  our  country.  Tiieir  necessities  formed  a  marked  sub- 
ject of  attention,  and  measures  were  adopted  for  their 
relief,  at  almost  every  meeting  of  the  Synod,  before  the 
unhappy  rent  which  divided  it,  in  1741.  After  that 
occurrence,  till  the  reunion  of  the  Synods  in  1758,  each 


4  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

of  the  conflictmg  bodies  made  vigorous  exertions  to  sup- 
ply the  spiritual  wants  of  the  southern  portion  of  the 
then  British  colonies.  The  result  was,  that  not  only 
many  churches  were  organized,  but  several  Presbyteries 
were  formed  in  that  section  of  our  country. 

In  the  year  1766,  the  Sjmod  of  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia, then  the  supreme  judicatory  of  the  Church, 
directed  that  a  subscription  should  be  taken  up,  or  a 
collection  made,  in  all  their  congregations,  vacant  as  well 
as  supplied,  for  sending  the  Gospel  to  destitute  places ; 
and,  in  the  following  year,  they  determined  that  such  a 
collection  should  be  annually  made ;  and  they  adopted 
other  suitable  measures  to  carry  into  effect  their  benev- 
olent design. 

During  the  \7ar  of  Independence,  the  public  mind 
was  so  engrossed  with  the  state  of  the  country  that  all 
religious  institutions  languished,  and    some  were  tem- 
porarily suspended.     In  the  South,  the  hostile  armies 
overran,  and  for  a  time  had  the  occupancy  of  a  part  of 
the  region,  to  which  missions  had  previously  been  sent ; 
and  missionary  operations,  on  the  whole  frontier  of  the 
United  States,  were  precluded,  by  the  existence  or  the 
fear  of  Indian  hostilities.     Such,  nevertheless,  was  the 
strength  of  the  missionary  spirit  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  that  a  number  of  missionaries  were  sent  forth 
during  this  war ;  and  the  subject  continued  to  command 
the  serious  attention  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,  as  long  as  it  remained  the  highest  judica- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  Church.     The  General  Assem- 
bly, which  was  constituted  by  that  Synod  in  1788,  met, 
for  the  first  time,  in  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1789.     Dur- 
ing the  sessions  of  this  first  year,  the  missionary  cause 
claimed  a  particular  attention.     The  four  Synods,  then 
existing  under  the  Assembly,  were  directed  to  provide 


DOMESTIC  MISSIONS.  5 

and  recommend,  each,  two  missionaries  to  the  next  As- 
sembly ;  and  that  funds  might  be  prepared  to  meet  the 
expense  expected  to  be  incurred,  it  was  enjoined  on  all 
the  Presbyteries,  to  take  measures  for  raising  collections, 
in  all  the  congregations  within  their  bounds. 

It  is  believed  that  at  this  time  (1789)  there  was  not, 
in  the  United  States,  another  religious  denomination 
beside  the  Presbyterian,  that  prosecuted  any  domestic 
missionary  enterprise ;  except  that  then,  as  since,  the 
Methodists  sent  forth  their  circuit  riders,  in  various 
directions.  A  few  years  subsequently,  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  of  Connecticut  sent  missionaries  among  the 
emigrants  from  that  State,  who  had  located  themselves 
within  the  bounds  of  the  States  of  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania ;  and,  in  Massachusetts  also,  at  a  period  some- 
what later,  missionary  operations  were  set  on  foot.  But 
for  some  time,  with  the  exception  stated,  the  Presby- 
terian Church  stood  alone,  at  least  as  to  any  regular  and 
systematic  efforts,  in  supplying  the  destitute  portions  of 
our  country  with  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  For 
thirteen  years  in  succession,  the  General  Assembly,  at 
every  annual  meeting,  either  by  a  committee  appointed 
for  the  purpose,  or  by  measures  adopted  on  motion  in 
the  House,  took  the  missionary  concern  into  special 
consideration,  heard  the  reports  of  those  appointed  in  a 
preceding  year,  and  made  new  appointments,  as  exten- 
sively as  missionaries  and  the  means  of  their  support 
could  be  obtained. 

In  1800,  measures  of  increased  vigor  and  efficiency 
were  adopted,  to  raise  funds  for  the  support  of  the  mis- 
sionary cause.  Agents  were  commissioned  and  sent  out 
into  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  solicit  donations  in 
aid  of  the  Assembly's  Missions ;  and  the  result  was,  the 
formation  of  a  fund  of  upwards  of  twenty-two  thousand 


6  PEESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

dollars,  conditioned  by  tlie  donors,  that  the  capital  should 
remain  unbroken,  and  the  annual  interest  only  be  ex- 
pended. At  this  period,  the  Kev.  Jedediah  Chapman 
was  appointed  a  stated  missionary  for  four  years,  in  the 
northwestern,  part  of  the  State  of  New  York ;  to  direct 
and  assist  other  missionaries,  and  to  spend  six  months  of 
each  year  in  personal  labors,  in  this,  at  that  time,  the 
most  favored  missionary  field.  He  subsequently  re- 
ceived missionary  appointments,  till  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1813.  The  same  year  (1800)  the  Eev.  James 
Hall  was  appointed  a  missionary  to  Natchez,  for  several 
months;  and  was  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  James  Bow- 
man and  William  Montgomery,  appointed  by  the  Synod 
of  the  Carolinas.  This  mission  was  performed  in  a  very 
able  and  satisfactory  manner. 

In  1802,  an  important  alteration  took  place  in  the  man- 
ner of  conducting  the  Missionary  business.  It  had  now 
become  so  extensive,  that  the  Assembly  found  it  would 
be  impossible,  amidst  the  numerous  concerns  claiming 
their  attention,  to  devote  to  it,  during  the  short  term  of 
their  annual  sessions,  that  time  and  regard  which  its 
successful  and  extended  prosecution  demanded.  To 
diminish  their  business,  and  to  ensure  a  proper  manage- 
ment of  all  their  missionary  affairs,  they  appointed  a 
Standing  Committee  of  Missions,  to  act  through  the 
year;  prescribed  to  them  the  duties  to  be  performed, 
and  clothed  them  with  such  powers  as  were  then 
deemed  suflBcient.  Immediately  on  the  rising  of  the 
Assembly,  the  Committee  organized  themselves,  and 
entered  with  alacrity  and  zeal  on  the  discharge  of  the 
interesting  duties  assigned  them.  A  circular  letter  was 
addressed  to  Presbyteries,  urging  their  assistance  in  the 
missionary  enterprise ;  a  system  of  instructions  was 
drawn  up  and  printed,  for  directing  the  conduct  of  the 


DOMESTIC    MISSIONS.  7 

missionaries  employed ;  and  a  circular  letter  was  pre- 
pared and  sent  by  the  Committee  to  every  Protestant 
Missionary  Society  known  to  exist  in  Europe — contain- 
ing information  in  regard  to  missionary  operations  in 
our  country  at  large,  and  more  particularly  in  our  own 
Church.  A  series  of  questions  on  missionary  concerns 
was  also  contained  in  the  letter,  and  answers  were 
solicited,  from  which  it  was  hoped  that  much  useful 
information  might  be  derived,  to  aid  the  Committee 
in  the  management  of  their  important  business.  Due 
attention  was  paid  to  this  letter,  by  the  Societies  to  which 
it  was  addressed,  and  numerous  and  friendly  replies 
were  received.  Under  the  conduct  of  the  Committee, 
the  Missionary  operations  became  more  and  more  ex- 
tensive ;  and  the  satisfaction  was  enjoyed  of  beholding 
them  constantly  exerting  a  most  benign  influence  on  the 
cause  of  religion.  In  one  year  of  its  existence,  the  Com- 
mittee recommended,  and  the  Assembly  sanctioned, 
fifty-one  missionary  appointments. 

It  ought  to  be  particularly  noted,  that  a  very  zealous 
effort  was  made  by  the  Standing  Committee  to  establish 
regular  missionary  operations  among  the  unhappy 
African  race,  in  the  southern  section  of  our  country. 
With  this  view,  they  commissioned  the  Rev.  John 
Cliavis,  a  man  of  African  descent,  who  had  previous- 
ly been  employed  as  a  missionary  among  the  blacks, 
by  the  Synod  of  Virginia.  From  the  General  Assem- 
bly, on  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee,  he  re- 
ceived, for  six  years  in  succession,  missionary  appoint- 
ments to  the  people  of  his  color,  in  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina.     Nor  did  he  labor  altogether  in  vain. 

[The  brief  reference  to  Mr.  Chavis  in  the  text  may 
be  supplemented  by  later  information.  He  was  a  negro 
of  full  blood,  but  a  freeman.     He  was  born  in  17C3, 


8  PEESBYTEEIAN   MISSIONS. 

near  Oxford,  N.  C.,  and  educated  at  Princeton  College, 
under  Dr.  Witherspoon.  His  expenses  were  defrayed 
by  gentlemen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Oxford,  who 
wished  to  see  how  far  a  negro  could  be  well  educated. 
He  was  licensed  as  a  preacher  by  a  New  Jersey  Presby- 
tery, and  accompanied  the  Kev.  Samuel  Davis  to  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
In  that  State  he  preached  the  Gospel  acceptably  until 
1805,  and  then  was  transferred  to  North  Carolina,  where 
he  continued  in  faithful  work  in  three  counties,  one  of 
them  his  native  county,  until  1832.  He  died  in  1838, 
in  his  seventy-fifth  year.  He  was  aided  in  his  later 
years  by  the  Presbytery  for  his  support,  which  was  con- 
tinued to  his  widow.  His  ministry  was  eminently  use- 
ful, and  for  several  years  he  conducted  a  classical  school 
for  white  boys.  This  school  was  considered  the  best  in 
the  State  at  that  time.  Many  eminent  professional  men, 
sons  of  the  best  families  in  the  State,  received  their 
education  in  it ;  some  of  whom  were  still  living  a  few 
years  ago,  who  spoke  in  warm  terms  of  praise  of  their 
former  teacher.  The  great  respect  and  kindly  feeling 
which  were  shown  to  Mr.  Chavis  were  due  to  his  own 
character  and  life,  and  were  worthy  not  only  of  himself, 
but  of  his  white  friends.  His  memoirs  should  be  acces- 
sible, for  the  benefit  of  his  race,  and  not  less  of  white 
people,  both  in* our  Northern  and  Southern  States.  It 
is  our  blessed  religion  that  must  mainly  solve  existing 
and  grave  difficulties.*] 

But  the  most  important  and  efficient  services,  in  this 
field  of  benevolent  action,  were  performed  by  the  late 
eminent  and  lamented  John  H.  Eice,  D.D.     For  seven 

*  This  imperfect  note  is  abridged  from  an  article  in  the  Chicago 
Interior  of  April  28,  1892,  written  by  a  respected  minister  of  the 
Southern  Presbyterian  Church. 


DOMESTIC  MISSIONS. 


9 


years  he  cheerfully  accepted  a  mission  to  the  black  pop- 
ulation of  Virginia,  and  labored  among  them  with  the 
most  exemplary  fidelity  and  happy  success.  The  fruits 
of  his  mission  are  said  to  be  yet  visible,  and  to  be  remem- 
bered with  gratitude,  by  a  number  of  those  to  whom  his 
labors  were  blessed. 

But  beside   the   missionaries  commissioned    by  the 
Assembly,  a  considerable  number  were  annually  sent 
forth  by  the  Synods,  who  managed  this  interesting  con- 
cern separately  from  the  Assembly.     The  Synods  of  the 
Carolinas,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Pittsburgh,  were  dis- 
tinguished for  their  zeal  and  efficiency  in  the  missionary 
caule.     By  the  missionary  operations  of  the  Synod  of 
Virginia,  some  of   the   first  Presbyterian  churches  in 
KeiTtucky  were  formed,  and  afterwards  supplied  with  the 
Gospel  ordinances.     But  of  all  the  Synods,  that  of  Pitts- 
burgh was  the  longest  and  most  extensively  and  efficiently 
engaged  in  sustaining  missions,  both  domestic  and  foreign. 
It  ought  not  to  be  omitted,  that  among  the  other 
labors  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  Missions,  was  the 
distribution  of  a  large  number  of  religious  books  and 
tracts,  and  the   editing  and  publishing  of  a  monthly 
Miscellany  of  fifty  octavo  pages. 

In  a  compendious  view  of  Missions  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  some  notice  is  due  to  "The  Western  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  New  Jersey."  It  was  formed  about 
the  year  ISOO.  Its  organization,  indeed,  was  entirely 
independent  of  the  General  Assembly.  But  it  was  com- 
posed of  members  belonging  to  the  same  church,  con- 
tributed liberally  to  the  funds  of  the  Assembly,  pursued 
the  same  objects,  and  was,  for  a  length  of  time,  active 
and  spirited  in  the  execution  of  its  own  missionary  plans. 
Its  operations  ceased,  principally  for  the  want  of  funds, 
about  four  years  since. 


10  PEESBYTEKIAN   MISSIONS. 

In  1816,  the  Standing  Committee  of  Missions,  on  tlieir 
owii  recommendation,  was  succeeded  by  a  Board,  which, 
by  an  order  of  the  Assembly,  was  styled  "  The  Board  of 
Missions   actingr  under  the  authority   of   the   General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States."     The  powers  of  the  Committee  had  not  ex- 
tended beyond  the  nomination  of  missionaries  to  the 
Assembly,  pointing  out  their  routes  of  travel  or  fields  of 
labor,  and  specifying  the  amount  of  salary  due  to  each. 
A  final  action  on  all  these  points  was  among  the  powers 
now  granted  to  this  Board ;  whose  members  were  not 
confined  to  Philadelphia  and  its  vicinity,  but  were  taken, 
in  part,  from  each  of  the  Synods  composing  the  Assembly 
— to  wliich  body  an  annual  report  of  all  the  transactions 
of  the  preceding  year  was  required  to  be  made.     The 
centre  of  action  was  still  in  Philadelphia.     The  Assem- 
bly "authorized  and  directed  the  Board  to  take  measures 
for  establishing  throughout  the  churches.  Auxiliary  Mis- 
sionary Societies,  and  recommended  to  their  people  the 
establishment  of  such  societies,  to  aid  the  funds  and  ex- 
tend the  operations  of  the  Board."     In  carrying  this 
order  of  the  Assembly  into  effect,  the  Board  recom- 
mended the  formation  of  Auxiliary  Societies  in  every 
Presbytery,  and  the  formation  of   Missionary  Associa- 
tions, as  far  as  practicable,  in  all  the  congregations  of 
each  Presbytery ;  and,  to  a  considerable  extent,  this  rec- 
ommendation  was   complied  with.      For  a  time,   the 
operations  of  this  Board  were  prosecuted  with  much 
vigor,  and  an  encouraging  success.     And  although  in  no 
year  did  the  Board  commission  as  many  missionaries  as 
had  been  recommended  to  the  Assembly,  in  some  years 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  to  which  it  succeeded,  yet 
for  a  series  of  years  its  efficiency  was  great,  in  convcv- 
ing  widely  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel  to  the  destitute. 


DOMESTIC   MISSIONS.  11 

It  deserves  especial  notice,  tliat  in  almost  every  part  of 
our  country,  numerous  infant  churches  were  organized 
by  the  travelling  missionaries  of  this  Board,  which  could 
not  otherwise  have  been  formed;  and  which  afterwards 
furnished  the  opportunity,  so  haj>pily  embraced  by  other 
institutions,  to  afford  assistance,  in  the  support  of  their 
pastors  or  stated  supplies.  But  for  a  considerable  period 
before  its  reor<i^nization,  the  Board  lanpiished  greatly; 
and  all  its  operations  were  crippled  and  circumscribed 
by  the  want  of  funds.  Other  institutions  came  in  con- 
flict with  applications  for  supplies,  from  the  sources 
whence  they  had  previously  i)cen  derived.  In  a  word, 
it  became  evident,  that  if  some  effective  measures  were 
not  speedily  taken  to  reanimate  the  Board,  it  would  scx)n 
either  cease  to  exist,  or  exist  in  nothing  but  name. 
Neither  this  Board,  nor  the  Standing  Committee  which 
preceded  it,  had  ever  employed  a  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary and  General  Agent,  nor  appointed  an  Executive 
Committee.  All  their  duties  were  discharged  by  a  few 
of  their  members,  the  clerical  part  of  whom  were  con- 
stantly occupied,  with  numerous  pastoral  engagements. 
TouNo  men's  The  Young  Glen's  Missionary  Society 
SOCIETY  OF  of  New  York  was  formed  in  the  city  of 
NEW  YORK.  New  York,  as  nearly  as  the  writer  has 
been  able  to  ascertain,  in  the  year  1815;  and  was  laud- 
ably active  for  a  numl)er  of  years,  in  6upj)lying  the 
destitute  portions  of  that  State,  and,  to  some  extent, 
the  contiguous  parts  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  with  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  The 
last  report  which  they  made,  while  they  existed  as  a  dis- 
tinct organization,  states  that  in  the  preceding  year  they 
had  employed  nine  missionaries,  whose  labors  had  not 
only  been  highly  acceptable,  but  in  some  instances 
greatly  blessed. 


12  PRESBTTEKTAN  MISSIONS. 

NEW  YORK  Tlie  New  York  Evangelical  Missionary 
EVANGELICAL  Socictj  appcai's  to  have  been  instituted 
SOCIETY.  about  a  year  (1816)  subsequently  to  the 
one  last  mentioned.  In  the  conclusion  of  their  fifth 
and  last  annual  report,  in  December,  1821,  they  say: 
"  In  summing  up  the  operations  of  the  Board,  it 
appears  that  they  had  in  their  employment  the  present 
year  ten  missionaries — one  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  six 
in  the  middle  and  western  counties  of  Kew  York,  one 
on  Long  Island,  and  two  in  the  city  of  New  York.  To 
support  these  operations,  considerable  funds  were  re- 
quired, and  much  has  been  generously  bestowed."  The 
colored  people  of  New  York  City  received  a  particular 
attention  from  this  Society,  and  a  colored  missionary 
whom  they  employed,  appears  to  have  been  blessed  in 
his  ministrations. 

UNITED  The  two  Societies  last  mentioned,  as  ap- 
DOMESTic  pears  by  what  follows,  were  merged  in  "  The 
SOCIETY.  United  Domestic  Missionary  Society."  This 
Society,  says  an  authentic  document,  "  was  organized 
on  the  9th  of  May,  1822,  by  a  Convention  of  delegates 
from  Domestic  Missionary  Associations  in  various  parts 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  Soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion two  respectable  Domestic  Missionary  Societies 
in  this  city  (New  York),  having  twenty-eight  mission- 
aries under  their  care,  transferred  their  concerns  to 
this  new  institution."  It  was  only  for  about  four  years 
that  this  institution  acted  under  the  name  or  title 
which  it  assumed  at  its  origin.  But  during  this  period 
its  operations  were  carried  on  vrith  energy  and  success. 
Many  auxiUary  societies  were  established  ;  and  the  num- 
ber of  missionaries  which  it  employed  increased  from 
seventy-five  in  the  first  year  to  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
one  in  the  year  before  it  changed  its  name.    The  success 


DOMESTIC   MISSIONS.  13 

of  its  missionaries,  moreover,  was  represented  as  most 
decisive  and  encouraging.  The  State  of  New  York,  in  _ 
wliich  the  Society  originated,  shared  largely,  but  not  ex- 
clusively, in  the  labors  of  its  missionaries.  The  destitu- 
tion of  Gospel  ordinances  in  the  newly-formed  States 
of  the  West  attracted  the  particular  attention  of  the  So- 
ciety ;  but  no  itinerating  missionaries  were  employed. 
On  the  contrary,  they  were  denounced  as  a  nuisance  to 
the  Church ;  and  the  building  up  of  feeble  churches,  so 
as  to  establish  a  settled  ministry  in  them,  was  avowedly 
the  exclusive  plan  of  this  Society. 

AMERICAN  A   meeting   of    delegates   from   the 

HOME  MIB8I0NAKT  different  States  of   New  England  was 

BociETT.  held  at  Boston,  in  an  early  part  of  the 

year  182G,  at  which  the  formation  of  a  General  Society 
for  Domestic  Missions  was  recommended,  the  seat  of 
which  should  be  at  New  York.  Apj>rised  of  this, 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  United  Domestic 
Missionary  Society  invited  the  directors  of  that  Associa- 
tion, together  with  other  friends  of  missions  in  the 
United  States,  "  to  convene  at  the  session  room  of  the 
Brick  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  city,  on  "Wednesday, 
the  tenth  day  of  May,  at  eight  o'clock,  a.m.,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  an  American  Home  Missionary 
Society."  This  Convention  was  accordingly  held  at  the 
time  designated ;  and  after  some  preliminary  proceed- 
ings, "  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  United  Domestic  Missionary  Society,  read  a  form  of 
a  Constitution,  which  the  Executive  Committee  had 
agreed  to  recommend  to  the  Convention  ";  after  which 
the  following  resolution  was  passed  :  "  That  this  Conven- 
tion entirely  approve  of  the  proposed  plan  of  a  National 
Home  Missionary  Society,  and  that  they  will  now  pro- 
ceed to  consider  the  Constitution  that  has  been  offered." 


14  PRESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

After  considering  the  Constitution,  the  Convention 
adopted  the  following  resolutions : 

"  That  this  Convention  approve  the  proposed  Consti- 
tution, and  recommend  to  the  United  Domestic  Mis- 
sionary Society  to  adopt  the  same,  and  to  become  the 
American  Home  Missionary  Society." 

"  That  the  officers  of  this  meeting  be  a  Committee  of 
the  Convention,  to  present  to  the  United  Domestic  Mis- 
sionary Society  a  statement  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting,  together  with  the  proposed  Constitution,  and 
tlie  preceding  recommendation  that  the  same  be  adopted. 
On  the  Friday  evening  following,  the  United  Domestic 
Missionary  Society  met  for  the  adoption  of  the  Consti- 
tution, as  recommended  by  the  Convention."  *  Such  was 
the  oi'igin  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society. 

This  Society  consisted,  when  organized,  of  various 
distinct  ecclesiastical  bodies,  or  associations,  three-fourths 
of  which  were  not  Presbyterian ;  and  it  acknowledged 
no  responsibility  to  any  judicatory  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  It  refused,  although  kindly  invited,  to  co- 
operate in  missionary  concerns  with  the  Assembly's 
Board,  but  came  forth  against  it  in  open  hostility, 
and  labored  for  some  years  to  thwart  its  operations  and 
destroy  its  influence.  It  was  never  denied  that  this  So- 
ciety, especially  in  the  early  periods  of  its  existence,  had 
in  its  connection  many  estimable  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  was  instrumental  in  building  up  and 
supplying  w^th  pastors  no  inconsiderable  number  of 
feeble  congregations  in  this  Church,  and  that  on  this  ac- 
count it  for  a  time  received  the  countenance  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

But  it  was  not  long  before  it  became  palpably  evident 

*  See  Missionwry  Herald,  vol.  xxii.,  pp.  161,  191. 


DOMESTIC   MISSIOIS^S.  15 

that  in  every  conflict  in  the  General  Assembly,  in  which 
an  attempt  was  made  to  sustain  discipline  or  to  maintain 
in  their  integrity  the  doctrines  and  government  of  the 
Church,  the  attempt  was  resisted,  and  in  general  de- 
feated, by  the  friends  and  dependents  of  this  Society. 
In  a  word,  it  became  notorious,  that  the  unhappy  and 
reproachful  distractions  of  the  Church,  threatening  not 
only  its  peace  but  its  very  existence,  were  attributable, 
in  a  great  measure,  to  the  influence  of  this  institution ; 
in  introducing  as  pastors,  and  consequently  as  members 
of  Presbyteries,  and  ultimately  as  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  men  of  unsound  theological  opinions,  and 
nearly  always  of  lax  sentiments,  in  regard  to  the  govern- 
ment and  discipline  of  the  Church ;  and  tliat,  of  course, 
peace  and  order  could  not  be  restored  till  this  evil  should 
be  abated.  Under  this  conviction,  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  1837  passed  the  following  resolution : 

'^  Besolved,  That  while  we  desire  that  no  body  of 
Christian  men  of  other  denominations  should  be  pre- 
vented from  choosing  their  own  plans  of  doing  good ; 
and  while  we  claim  no  right  to  complain,  should  they 
exceed  us  in  energy  and  zeal— we  believe  that  facts  too 
familiar  to  need  repetition  here,  warrant  us  in  afiirming 
that  the  organization  and  operations  of  the  so-called 
American  Home  Missionary  Society  and  American 
Education  Society,  and  its  branches  of  whatever  name, 
are  exceedingly  injurious  to  the  peace  and  purity  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  We  recommend,  accord- 
ingly, that  they  should  cease  to  operate  witliin  our 
churches." 

Any  Christian  Church  will  be  preponderantly  in- 
fluenced, and  will  eventually  find  all  its  important  meas- 
ures moulded  and  directed  by  those  who  conduct  the 
education  or  training  of  its  youth  for  the  Gospel  ministry ; 


IG  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

and  who  possess,  at  the  same  time,  the  exclusive  manage- 
ment of  its  domestic  and  foreign  missions.  The  truth 
of  this  position  will  not  be  doubted  by  any  intelhgent 
person,  who  candidly  and  carefully  considers  the  nature 
of  the  case,  and  who  is  able  and  willing  to  consult  and 
appreciate  the  evidence  derivable  from  observation  and 
experience.  Let  it  then  be  observed,  that  the  American 
Education  Society,  the  American  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety, and  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions,  if  their  views  had  been  carried  into 
full  effect,  would  in  fact  have  conducted,  to  a  great  and 
commanding  extent,  if  not  exclusively,  the  education  or 
training  of  youth  for  the  Gospel  ministry  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church ;  and  would,  at  the  same  time,  have  di- 
rected all  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missions  of  that 
Church.  Now,  it  is  known  that  all  these  institutions 
are  without  any  ecclesiastical  organization  or  responsi- 
bility whatever ;  and  yet,  in  the  case  supposed,  they 
would  have  possessed  a  preponderant  influence  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  have  given  shape  and  direc- 
tion to  its  most  important  measures.  That  is,  the  man- 
agement of  the  concerns  of  this  Church  would  have 
passed  out  of  the  Church  (not  in  form  but  yet  in  fact) 
into  the  hands  of  secular  institutions — of  secular  institu- 
tions, moreover,  a  majority  of  whose  members,  to  say 
the  least,  had  no  partiality  for  Presbyterian  government, 
usages,  or  creeds.  It  will  not  follow  from  this  that 
those  who  planned  the  Societies  in  question  had  hostile 
designs  against  the  Presbyterian  Church.  This  the 
present  writer  neither  affirms  nor  believes.  Good  men 
have  often  formed  plans,  or  acted  a  part,  the  mischiev- 
ous results  of  which  they  did  not  foresee,  or  suspect  to 
be  possible — a  truth  abundantly  confirmed  by  the  history 
of  the  Church  in  past  ages. 


DOMESTIC  MISSIONS.  17 

It  belongs  not  to  the  design  of  this  sketch  to  speak 
directly  of  other  than  missionary  concerns.  But  it  may 
with  truth  be  remarked,  that  the  education  of  youth  for 
the  Gospel  ministry  is  essentially  connected  with  the 
subject  of  Missions.  These  youth  must,  many  of  them, 
be  ultimately  the  missionaries  of  the  Church.  They 
form,  as  it  were,  the  very  elements  of  all  missionary 
operations;  and  every  friend  to  missions,  and  indeed 
every  enlightened  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
must  regard  its  Board  of  Education  as  intimately  and 
directly  connected  with  all  the  best  interests  of  the 
Church,  and  yield  it  accordingly  a  cheerful  and  liberal 
patronage. 

As  in  ITew  York,  so  also  in  Philadelphia,  there  were 
several  Missionary  Societies,  which  were  eventually 
combined,  and  formed  into  a  single  Institution.  The 
Christian  Advocate  for  the  month  of  April,  1826,  con- 
tained, on  this  subject,  the  following  statement : 

"  Many  years  ago  a  Philadelphia  Missionary  Society 
was  organized  in  this  city,  to  which  each  annual  sub- 
scriber paid  five  dollars,  and  each  subscriber  for  hfe  fifty 
dollars.  For  a  considerable  time,  it  was  prosperous  and 
eflScient;  being  able  constantly  to  support  a  laborer  in 
the  metropolis  and  its  vicinity,  and  sometimes  to  send 
missionaries  to  distant  parts  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Unhappily,  however,  the  love  of  novelty,  or  some  cause 
less  commendable,  produced  within  the  last  eight  years 
four  or  five  other  Presbyterian  Missionary  Societies  in 
the  city  and  liberties  of  Philadelphia.  This  distracted 
the  minds  of  our  fellow-citizens,  divided  their  resources, 
and  paralyzed  their  exertions.  These  societies,  for  the 
most  part,  were  supported  by  the  same  individuals ;  and 
.  consumed  in  their  management  five  hours,  where  one 
would  have  been  sufficient,  had  they  been  united.     To 


18  PEESBTTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

produce,  if  possible,  a  better  state  of  things,  in  the  Pres- 
byterian portion  of  this  community,  two  of  our  Mission- 
ary Societies  resolved  to  become  extinct ;  and  on  the  7th 
of  the  present  month,  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  this  city 
resolved  to  co-operate  with  each  other,  in  an  association 
which  is  called  the  Pennsylvania  Missionary  Society. 
PENNSYLVANIA  "  Morc  tliau  uinc  hundred  dollars, 
MISSIONARY  stipulated  to  be  paid  annually,  were  at 
SOCIETY.  once  subscribed  by  fourteen  individuals, 
and  the  subscriptions  of  a  few  other  persons  since, 
have  made  the  annual  income  of  the  Society  already 
exceed  one  thousand  dollars.  This,  we  trust,  will 
prove  but  a  good  beginning;  and  we  earnestly  entreat 
our  Christian  friends,  and  especially  the  ministers  and 
elders  of  the  Presb}i:crian  Church  throughout  the  State, 
to  unite  with  us ;  and  not  to  relax  their  exertions,  until 
every  vacant  congregation  in  Pennsylvania  has  a  well- 
informed  and  faithful  pastor ;  and  every  town  and  vil- 
lage a  dwelling-place  for  the  Most  High.  The  object  of 
this  Society  is,  to  employ  regular  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel, or  licentiates  of  the  Presbyterian  or  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  in  the  United  States,  to  preach  among 
the  destitute  in  this  city  and  State ;  and  when  their 
funds  will  allow,  to  assist  infant  churches  m  this  and 
neighboring  States,  in  maintaining  the  stated  ministra- 
tions of  the  word  and  other  ordinances  of  Christ 

Every  benevolent  heart  must  wish  success  to  this  newly 
organized  Society,  which  seems  destined  particularly  to 
promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Presbyterian  por- 
tion of  this  Commonwealth.  The  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  in  this  country  is  in  all  respects  Presbyterian,  in 
its  creed  and  character ;  and  therefore  the  two  denomi- 
nations united  in  this  laudable  enterprise  can  harmonize 
in  their  operations." 


DOMESTIC  MISSIONS.  19 

This  Society  was  zealous,  active,  and  successful,  in 
prosecuting  the  objects  for  which  it  was  instituted.  But 
it  did  not  long  continue  its  operations ;  for  after  the  re- 
organization of  the  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions,  it  was 
seen  that  the  very  purposes  for  which  the  Society  had 
been  formed,  were  embraced  in  the  plan  of  that  Board  ; 
and  therefore  that  the  continuance  of  the  Society  would 
be  rather  injurious  than  useful. 

Thus  it  appears,  that  while  the  American  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  absorbed  all  the  small  domestic  institu- 
tions of  a  missionary  character,  within  the  scope  of  its 
influence,  the  same  effect  was  produced,  on  similar  insti- 
tutions of  a  strictly  Presbyterian  character,  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  Missionary  Board  of  the  General  Assembly. 
The  friends  of  these  two  large  and  commanding  bodies 
threw  their  funds  and  their  influence  into  the  one  or 
the  other  of  them,  according  as  they  were  led  by  their 
predilections  or  their  sense  of  duty. 

In  1828  a  printed  Overture,  signed  by  three  clergy- 
men and  two  laymen,  was  introduced  into  the  Assembly, 
through  the  Committee  of  Overtures,  proposing  and 
urging  a  new  organization  of  the  Board  of  Missions. 
After  an  ardent  and  protracted  debate,  occasioned  by 
opposition  to  the  Overture  by  the  friends  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Society,  the  Assembly  resolved,  "  That  the 
Board  of  Missions  already  have  the  power  to  establish 
Missions,  not  only  among  the  destitute  of  our  own 
country,  or  any  other  country,  but  also  among  the 
heathen  in  any  part  of  the  world;  to  select,  appoint, 
and  commission  missionaries ;  to  determine  their  salaries, 
and  to  settle  and  pay  their  accounts  ;  that  they  have  full 
authority  to  correspond  with  any  other  body  on  the  sub- 
ject of  missions ;  to  appoint  an  Executive  Committee, 
and  an  efficient  agent  or  agents,  to  manage  their  mis- 


20  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

sionarj  concerns ;  to  take  measures  to  form  auxiliary 
societies,  on  such  terms  as  they  may  deem  proper ;  to 
procure  funds,  and  in  general  to  manage  the  missionary 
operations  of  the  General  Assembly.  It  is  therefore 
submitted  to  the  discretion  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  to 
consider  whether  it  is  expedient  for  them  to  carry  into 
effect  the  full  powers  which  they  possess." 

THE  GENERAL  No  time  was  lost,  after  the  rising 

ASSEMBLY  of  thc  Asscmbly,  in  reorganizing  the 

BOARD  OF  MISSIONS.  Board  of  Missions  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  At  the  first 
meeting  of  this  Board,  an  Executive  Committee  was 
appointed,  a  Corresponding  Secretary  and  General  Agent 
was  chosen,  and  the  performance  of  the  various  duties 
of  the  Board  was  entered  on,  with  spirit  and  energy. 
The  manner  in  which  the  plans  of  this  Board  have 
been,  and  still  are,  carried  into  effect,  through  the 
agency  and  co-operation  of  Presbyteries  and  Sessions, 
and  indeed  the  whole  detail  of  its  proceedings,  are 
so  well  known  throughout  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
that  it  seemed  not  only  unnecessary,  but  improper,  to 
make  a  particular  statement  of  them  in  this  compendious 
view ;  yet  it  should  be  noted  that  for  several  years  it 
had  to  contend,  as  already  stated,  with  open  and  active 
opposition,  from  a  rival  institution.  But  its  onward 
progress  has  been  constant  and  cheering ;  till  by  its  re- 
port to  the  General  Assembly  in  May,  1837,  it  appears 
that  in  the  preceding  year,  the  Missionary  Fund  had 
amounted  to  nearly  thirty-one  thousand  dollars ;  that  the 
nmnber  of  missionaries  and  agents  employed  had  been 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five ;  that  several  missionaries 
had  been  sent  to  places  where  no  churches  or  congrega- 
tions had  been  previously  organized  ;  that  their  mission- 
aries had  labored  in  twenty  of  the  States  of  the  Ameri- 


DOMESTIC  MISSIONS.  21 

can  Union,  and  that  the  amount  of  ministerial  labor  per- 
formed, had  been  equal  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
years ;  that  the  number  of  members  added  to  the 
churches  under  the  care  of  the  missionaries,  by  examin- 
ation and  certificate,  had  been  two  thousand  six  hundred 
and  sixty ;  that  eighteen  new  churches  had  been  organ- 
ized, and  about  sixty  houses  for  public  worship  erected ; 
that  the  number  of  Sabbath-schools  that  had  been 
formed  was  a  little  short  of  five  hundred,  in  which  were 
employed  two  thousand  eight  hundred  teachers,  and 
twelve  thousand  scholars;  that  two  hundred  and  fifty 
Bible-classes  had  been  reported,  containing  more  than 
five  thousand  learners ;  that  the  number  of  Temperance 
Societies  reported  had  been  about  three  hundred  and 
eighty,  containing  forty  thousand  members ;  that  beside 
the  monthly  concert,  four  hundred  weekly  prayer-meet- 
ings had  been  established,  one  hundred  and  twenty  Bible 
Societies,  sixty-eight  Tract  Societies,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  Missionary  Societies,  and  societies  for  promoting 
other  benevolent  operations  in  similar  proportion. 

Domestic  Missions  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  may 
now  be  considered  as  systematically  and  permanently 
established,  and  under  the  continued  blessing  of  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church,  with  every  prospect  of  ex- 
tensive and  increasing  usefulness. 


FOKEIGK   OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS. 

AS  already  stated,  Heathen  Missions,  in  the  Infancy  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  were  impracticable.  It 
was  with  diflSculty,  and  principally  by  their  own  labor 
and  management,  that  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  ob- 
tained a  bare  subsistence  for  themselves  and  their  fami- 
lies. The  heathen  in  their  neighborhoods  lived  by  the 
chase  and  led  an  unsettled  life ;  so  that  without  some  pe- 
cuniary aid,  derived  from  a  foreign  source,  a  missionary 
could  not  exist  among  them — if  indeed  a  missionary  to 
them  ought,  in  any  event,  to  have  been  employed,  when 
on  all  sides  their  own  countrymen  were  perishing  for 
lack  of  knowledge.  Early,  however,  they  found  the 
means  and  the  men  for  the  prosecution  of  Heathen 
Missions.  The  Church  of  Scotland  was  their  mother 
Church ;  and  to  her  they  looked,  to  enable  them  to  send 
the  Gospel  to  the  pagans  of  the  wilderness.  "The 
Society  in  Scotland  for  propagating  Christian  knowl- 
edge" was  instituted,  in  Edinburgh,  in  1709.  This 
Society,  in  1741,  established  a  Board  of  Correspondents 
in  New  York,  who,  on  proper  recommendation,  ap- 
pointed the  Rev.  Azariah  Horton,  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  to  labor  as  a  missionary  on 
Long  Island,  where  a  large  number  of  Indians  then  re- 
sided. This  was  the  first  formal  heathen  mission,  insti- 
tuted in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Whatever  Christian 
instruction  had  been  previously  given  by  Presbyterian 
ministers  to  the  natives  of  the  forest,  had  been  imparted 
to  such  as  were  found  willing  to  receive  it,  in  the  neigh- 
(32) 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  23 

borhood  of  settled  pastors.  Mr.  Horton  received  from 
Scotland  a  salary  of  forty  pounds  sterling  per  annum ; 
and  he  chose  for  his  assistant  and  interpreter  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Miranda,  an  Indian,  and  formerly  a  trader, 
but  who  had  for  some  time  labored  to  instruct  the  Dela- 
ware and  Susquehanna  Indians.  Mr.  Horton's  inter- 
preter died,  not  long  after  his  appointment,  but  the 
mission  was  still  prosecuted  by  himself ;  and  at  the  East 
end  of  the  Island,  where  the  greatest  number  of  Indians 
were  found,  his  success,  for  a  time,  was  highly  encour- 
aging. A  general  reformation  of  manners  speedily 
appeared,  and  several  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  a 
saving  conversion ;  a  number  were  taught  to  read,  and 
in  two  or  three  years  he  had  baptized  forty-five  adults 
and  forty-four  children.  The  introduction  of  spirituous 
liquors,  the  bane  of  the  Indians,  had  an  unhappy  influ- 
ence, in  arresting  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  among 
them.  Yet  it  appears,  that  so  late  as  1788,  the  Indians 
in  those  places  where  Mr.  Horton  labored  were  etiU  re- 
ligiously disposed,  had  two  preachers  among  them,  both 
Indians,  who  were  well  esteemed ;  and  that  a  number  of 
individuals  were  then  in  the  full  communion  of  the 
Church. 

[The  "  large  number  of  Indians  "  on  Long  Island,  to 
whom  Mr.  Horton  ministered,  occupied  a  tract  of  coun- 
try near  Southampton.  Their  successors  still  remain  in 
the  same  district,  but  are  reduced  in  number  and  other- 
wise much  changed.  They  are  known  as  the  Sliinne- 
cock  Indians,  and  thirty  communicants  are  reported  in 
their  church,  in  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly, 
1892.  Under  date  of  September  10,  1891,  their  pas- 
tor gave  the  following  account  of  them : 

"  Our  present  generation,  descended  from  the  Shinne- 
cock  tribe,  is  now  greatly  mixed  with  negro  and  Anglo- 


24  PKESBYTERIAN  MISSIOT^S. 

Saxon  blood,  the  former  to  much  the  most  extent.  Only 
two  claim  to  be  of  pure  Indian  blood,  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty-two  are  of  mixed  blood.  Together  they  make 
164  persons  in  34  families.  Besides  those  who  reside 
here,  there  are  96  others  who  do  not  live  here,  but  are 
of  the  same  stock,  making  in  all  254  persons.  Their 
temporal  circumstances  are  not  very  favorable,  though 
much  better  than  formerly,  and  the  future  promises 
better  still.  Twenty  years  ago  they  were  decreasing ; 
for  the  last  decade  they  have  rapidly  increased.  I  find 
them  docile  and  kind,  though  not  as  industrious  as  I 
wish  them."] 

DAVTD  BRAiNERD.  Thc  sccoud  Prcsbyterian  missionary 
to  the  Indians  was  the  justly  celebrated  David  Brainerd. 
He  also  received  a  salary  from  the  same  Society  in 
Scotland,  by  which  Mr.  Horton  had  been  supported. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  an  association  of  Con- 
gregational ministers,  convened  at  Danbury  in  Connec- 
ticut, July  29, 1T42 ;  and  in  the  character  of  a  licentiate, 
spent  about  a  year  in  missionary  labor,  at  an  Indian 
settlement  called  Kaunaumeek,  about  twenty  miles  from 
Albany,  in  the  Province  of  New  York.  Here  his 
success  was  not  encouraging,  and  his  sufferings,  both 
mental  and  bodily,  were  extreme.  Inflexibly  deter- 
mined, however,  to  devote  his  life  to  the  evangelizing  of 
the  heathen,  he  refused  a  pressing  invitation  to  a  very 
advantageous  settlement,  in  an  English  congregation  on 
Long  Island.  He  was  ordained  as  a  missionary  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  at  Newark  in  New  Jersey, 
June  12, 1Y44.  From  this  time  to  his  death  (October 
9,  1747)  he  was  a  member  both  of  the  Presbytery  and 
Synod  of  New  York,  and  attended  all  their  meetings, 
unless  prevented  by  sickness,  or  by  his  missionary  engage- 
ments.    Immediately  after  his  ordination,  his  attention 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  25 

was  directed  to  three  collections,  or  bodies  of  Indians, 
considerably  remote  from  eacb  other :  namely,  to  those 
located  at  the  forks  of  the  Delaware  River,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Pennsylvania,  to  those  on  the  borders  of  the 
Susquehanna  River,  in  the  same  Province,  and  to  those 
who  resided  at  a  place,  the  Indian  name  of  which  was 
Crosweeksung,  called  by  the  English  Crosweeks,  near 
the  centre  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  and  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  miles  to  the  south  of  Kew  Bruns- 
wick.    He  spent  the  most  of  his  time  at  the  first  and 
last  mentioned  of  these  places;  although  he  made  no 
less  than  four  visits  to  the  borderers  on  the  Susque- 
hanna, encountering  dangers,  privations,  and  sufferings 
of  the  most  appalling  kind ;  and  by  his  last  visit  increas- 
ing greatly  a  tendency  to  a  consumption  of  the  lungs, 
which  terminated  his  life,  in  about  a  year  after  his 
return. 

Of  the  three  fields  of  missionary  labor,  in  which  Mr. 
Brainerd  was  employed  after  his  ordination,  Crosweek- 
sung was  that  in  which  he  reaped,  almost  exclusively, 
the  harvest  of  his  success.  On  the  pagans  of  the  Susque- 
hanna he  made  but  little  impression.  Among  those  at 
the  Forks  of  the  Delaware,  his  interpreter,  with  his 
wife,  were  the  only  individuals  who  gave  evidence  of  a 
sound  conversion ;  although  an  external  reformation  of 
manners  was  visible,  in  a  considerable  number.  But  at 
Crosweeksung  his  success  was  perhaps  without  a  parallel, 
in  heathen  missions,  since  the  days  of  the  apostles.  For 
his  exertions  were  made  single-handed  ;  he  had  no  fel- 
low-laborer, beyond  a  little  occasional  assistance  from 
two  or  three  neighboring  brethren  in  the  ministry.  In 
opposition  to  discouragements  which  would  have  sub- 
dued any  ordinary  mind,  and  which  went  near  to  van- 
quish his  own,  he  long  persevered,  with  no  prospect  of 


26  PRESBYTEKIAN  MISSIONS. 

obtaining  the  object  of  bis  wishes  and  bis  agonizing 
prayers,  in  the  conversion  of  those  to  whom  be  minis- 
tered. "I  do  not  know,"  be  says  in  bis  journal,  "that 
my  hopes  respecting  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  were 
ever  reduced  to  so  low  an  ebb,  since  I  bad  any  concern 
for  them,  as  when  I  first  visited  the  Indians  at  Crosweek- 
sung.  Yet  this  was  the  very  season  in  which  God  saw 
fit  to  begin  this  glorious  work."  A  glorious  work  it  pre- 
eminently was.  His  own  summary  account  of  it  is  in 
these  words : 

"June  19tb,  1746.  This  day  makes  up  a  complete 
year,  from  the  first  time  of  my  preaching  to  these  In- 
dians in  J^J^ew  Jersey.  What  amazing  things  has  God 
wrought,  in  this  space  of  time,  for  this  people !  What 
a  surprising  change  appears  in  their  tempers  and  be- 
havior !  How  are  morose  and  savage  pagans,  in  this 
short  period,  transformed  into  agreeable,  affectionate, 
and  humble  Christians !  and  then*  drunken  and  pagan 
bowlings  turned  into  devout  and  fervent  praises  to  God ! 
They  '  who  were  sometimes  in  darkness  are  now  become 
light  in  the  Lord.'  May  they  '  walk  as  children  of  the 
bght  and  of  the  day ! '  And  now,  to  Him  that  is  of 
power  to  establish  them,  according  to  the  Gospel  and 
the  preaching  of  Christ,  to  God  only  wise,  be  glory, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen." 

Mr.  Brainerd  soon  became  sensible,  that  the  Gospel 
could  not  be  permanently  established  among  his  Indian 
converts,  unless  he  could  prevail  on  them  to  abandon 
their  wandering  life  as  hunters,  and  rely  for  their  sub- 
sistence on  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  He  therefore 
advieed  them — and  they  unanimously  resolved  to  follow 
bis  advice — to  form  a  compact  settlement  by  themselves, 
and  to  become  agriculturists.  But  for  this  undertak- 
ing, their  residence  at  Crosweeksung  was  unfavorable. 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  27 

as  the  soil,  though  covered  with  bushes,  was  entirely 
unfit  for  cultivation.     But  the  territory  which  they  had 
not  yet  ceded  to  the  English,  was  of  considerable  ex- 
tent; and  at  the  distance  of  about  fifteen  miles,  at  a 
place  called  Cranberry,  they  possessed  a  large  tract  of 
land,  favorable  to  agricultural  operations.   Hither,  there- 
fore, they  removed ;  formed  a  settlement  without  any 
mixture  with  the  white  population,  and  under  the  di- 
rection and  instruction  of  their  missionary,  who  had  to 
take  personally  the  charge  of  every  concern,  they  en- 
tered on  the  business  of  farming.    They  were  organized 
into  a  regular  church  of  about  forty  communicating 
members ;  the  whole  number  that  removed  being  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty.     A  very  prosperous  school  of 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty  children,  and  wliich  was  event- 
ually enlarged  to  fifty,  was  hkewise  estabhshed,  under 
the  instruction  of  an  excellent  master,  whom  Mr.  Brain- 
erd  obtained  for  them,  and  for  whose  support  he  solicited 
donations.     Some  adults  were  also  taught  to  read,  in  an 
evening  school,  opened  for  their  accommodation.    It  was 
in  this  manner  that  Mr.  Brainerd  hoped  he  had  provided 
for  the   perpetuating  of   Gospel  ordinances,  not   only 
among  the  Indians  already  Christianized,  but  also  for 
their  descendants.    He  erected  among  them  a  house  for 
his  own  residence,  in  the  building  of  which  a  considerable 
part  of  the  labor  was  performed  by  himself.     This  was 
the  fourth  structure,  which,  at  his  different  missionary 
stations,  he  had  built  for  the  same  purpose,  and  mostly 
with  his  own  hands.      Scarcely  was  he  settled  in  his 
new  abode,  when  his  consumptive  complaint  compelled 
him  to  abandon  both  it  and  his  beloved  charge.     After 
being  confined  at  Elizabethtown,  in  the  house  of  the 
Eev.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  for  about  four  months,  he 
acquired  strength  enough  to  return,  and  bid  a  final  fare- 


28  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIOJS-S. 

well  to  his  congregation  of  heathen  converts,  on  the 
18th  of  February,  1747.  He  died,  as  already  stated,  on 
the  9th  of  the  following  October,  in  the  30th  year  of 
his  age,  the  half  of  this  year  not  being  completed.  A 
very  short  •  time  before  his  death,  he  was  visited  by  his 
brother  and  successor,  John  Brainerd,  and  was  com- 
forted by  the  prospect,  that  in  him  his  bereaved  flock 
would  still  be  under  the  care  of  a  faithful,  able,  and  af- 
fectionate pastor. 

JOHN  BKAiNEKD.  The  Rcv.  Johu  Brainerd  was  a  mem- 
ber both  of  the  Synod  and  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York.  For  several  years  he  was  successful  in  sustain- 
ing, and  in  somewhat  enlarging,  the  Indian  congre- 
gation and  school,  which  his  brother  had  organized. 
During  a  period  in  which  his  labors  among  the  Indians 
at  Cranberry  were  suspended,  by  several  journeys 
which  he  made  to  those  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  by 
other  causes,  his  place  was  well  supplied  by  the  Rev. 
William  Tennent,  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
whose  pastoral  charge  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cran- 
berry. Mr.  John  Brainerd,  as  well  as  his  brother,  held  a 
correspondence  with  the  Society  in  Scotland  for  the  pro- 
motion of  Christian  knowledge ;  but  he  was  supported 
principally,  if  not  wholly,  by  funds  derived  from  the 
contributions  of  Presbyterian  congregations  in  America. 
Such  was  certainly  the  fact,  after  the  commencement 
of  our  Revolutionary  war.  The  Synod  had  previously 
allowed  him  a  salary  of  thirty  pounds  per  annum ;  and 
in  1763  they  ordered  a  collection  to  be  taken  up  in  all 
their  congregations,  for  the  support  of  the  Indian  Mis- 
sion.  To  the  schoolmaster  they  awarded,  for  that  year, 
an  allowance  of  thirty  pounds.  They  also  voted  sixty- 
five  pounds,  for  the  support  of  the  Rev.  Sampson 
Occum,  a  native  Indian,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery 


FOEEIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  29 

of  Suffolk,  on  Long  Island,  and  at  that  time  a  mis- 
sionary among  the  Oneida  Indians.  He  was  afterwards 
employed,  for  many  years,  among  various  tribes  of  his 

race. 

The  converts  from  paganism  who  were  gathered  into 
the  Christian  Church  by  the  Brainerds,  appear  to  have 
maintained,  with  very  few  exceptions,  a  character  for 
vital  piety  and  exemplary  deportment,  through  the  whole 
of  their  subsequent  life;  and  some  are  represented  as 
having  died  in  the  triumphant  hope  of  the  Gospel.    But 
from  a  variety  of  causes  which  cannot  now  be  specified, 
but  chiefly  from  being  deprived  of  their  lands  by  the 
fraud  and  cupidity  of  the  white  inhabitants,  then-  num- 
bers  were   greatly   reduced*      In    1802,    some    com- 
missioners   from    New   Jersey    conducted    eighty-five 
Delaware  Indians,  the  remainder  of  Mr.  John  Brainerd's 
congregation,  to  New  Stockbridge,  to  place  them  under 
the  ministry  of  Mr,    Sergeant,  the  missionary  in  that 
town ;  and  it  was  then  stated  that  after  Mr.  Brainerd's 
death  (in  1780)  they  were  left  alone,  having  no  spiritual 
shepherd  to  watch  over  them,  no  meetings  for  divine 
worship  on  the  Sabbath,  and  no  school  for  their  children. 
We  only  add  that  the  remnant  left,  seem  to  have  lost  all 
sense  of  religion  ;  and  it  is  believed  have  now  become 
nearly,  if  not  altogether,  extinct — the  common  fate  of 
Indians  when  surrounded  by  a  white  population. 

In  the  year  1766,  the  Rev.  Charles  Beatty  and  the 
Rev.  George  Duffield,  performed  a  mission,  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Synod,  among  the  Indians  on  the 
Muskingum  River,  in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Ohio,  but 
which  was  then  a  howling  wilderness.  An  account  of 
this  mission  was  published  in  a  printed  pamphlet ;  and 
the  representation  made  was  so  favorable,  that  in  the 
*  Brown's  History  of  Missions,  vol.  i.,  p.  136, 


30  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

following  year  the  Synod  appointed  two  other  mission, 
aries  to  the  same  region  ;  but  owing  to  unfavorable  re- 
ports of  the  state  of  things  among  the  Indians  and  the 
frontier  inhabitants,  this  mission  was  not  fulfilled  ;  and 
no  further  attempts  were  made  to  evangelize  the  heathen 
in  that  quarter. 

THE  In  1796,  the  New  York  Missionary  Society 

NEW  TORE  was  Organized,  consisting  principally  of  mem- 
sociETY.  bers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  owed 
its  origin  to  the  missionary  zeal  excited  by  the  accounts 
then  recently  received  in  this  country,  of  the  institu- 
tion, animated  exertions,  and  flattering  prospects  of 
the  London  Missionary  Society.  The  present  writer 
can  state  from  a  distinct  recollection  of  his  feelings  and 
language  at  the  period  now  referred  to,  that  although  he 
highly  approved  the  zeal  of  the  founders  of  this  Society, 
and  was  perfectly  willing  that  they  should  prosecute 
their  own  views  of  duty,  yet  for  himself  he  saw  no  need 
of  any  new  organization  for  missionary  operations  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  thought  the  zeal  now 
awakened  should  be  cherished,  and  be  carried  into  the 
General  Assembly  of  our  Church ;  that  in  this  body  we 
already  had  an  organization,  than  which  none  could  be 
devised  better  adapted  to  the  prosecution  of  foreign  as 
well  as  domestic  missions ;  in  a  word,  it  was  his  opinion 
that  every  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  should 
use  his  influence,  and  all  his  means,  for  evangelizing  the 
heathen,  through  the  agency  of  the  Supreme  Judicatory 
of  our  Church.  How  far  these  sentiments  prevailed  is 
not  known  ;  but  it  was  only  in  the  northern  section  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  that  societies,  similar  to  that 
now  under  consideration,  were  at  that  time  patronized. 
The  members  of  this  Society,  however,  though  not  very 
numerous,  proceeded  with  a  laudable  spirit  and  activity 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  31 

in  the  execution  of  their  plans.  They  collected  funds 
to  a  considerable  amount;  and  under  their  patronage 
one  of  their  missionaries,  with  his  son  as  a  schoolmaster, 
formed  a  missionary  establishment  among  the  Chickasaw 
Indians,  which  for  a  time  prospered,  and  promised  to 
be  permanent.  No  less  than  eighteen  individuals  went 
out  with  this  mission,  and  contributed  in  various  ways 
to  carry  its  design  into  ejffect.  The  Society  also  estab- 
lished two  Indian  missions  in  the  State  of  New  York ; 
one  in  the  Tuscarora,  and  the  other  in  the  Seneca  tribe. 
Both  these  missions,  especially  the  latter,  appear  to  have 
prospered ;  and  to  have  been  happily  instrumental 
in  gathering  a  number  of  the  heathen,  as  hopeful  con- 
verts, into  the  Christian  Church.  In  the  year  1821,  they 
transferred  all  their  missions  to  the  United  Foreign 
Missionary  Society. 

THE  In  1797,  the  Northern  Missionary  Society 

KORTHERN  was  iustitutcd.  Why  a  distinct  society  was 
SOCIETY,  so  soon  formed  in  the  neighborhood  of  that 
last  mentioned,  and  what  was  the  proportion  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church  which  it  embodied,  is 
unknown  to  the  present  writer.  Commendable  exer- 
tions, however,  were  made  by  this  institution,  to  promote 
Indian  missions.  The  Society  obtained  considerable 
funds,  and  the  Indians  themselves  made  it  a  valuable 
donation  of  land.  In  the  circular  letter  sent  in  1802, 
by  the  Standing  Committee  of  Missions,  to  the  mis- 
sionary establishments  of  Europe,  it  is  stated  that  this 
Society  had  then  "made  preparations  for  sending  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  and  a  schoolmaster,  to  the  Oneida 
nation  of  Indians."  It  also  appears  that  it  had  a  mission 
located  at  Fort  Gratiot,  which  was  assumed  by  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  1823,  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  American  Board  in  1826 ;  at  which  time, 


33  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

it  employed  one  male  and  two  female  teachers,  and  had 
established  a  school,  containing  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
Indian  children. 

In  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Chapman,  as  a  missionary 
to  the  northwestern  frontier  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  the  year  1800,  the  General  Assembly  had  a  reference, 
not  only  to  the  wants  of  the  white  population,  but  to  the 
deplorable  condition  of  the  Indian  tribes,  for  whom  their 
sympathy  was  deeply  enlisted.  Hence,  in  the  circular 
letter  addressed  to  the  Presbyteries  by  the  Standing 
Committee,  in  1802,  the  following  passage  appeared : 
"Missionaries  for  the  Indians  is  a  great  desideratum 
with  the  Assembly.  The  hope  of  contributing  to  send 
the  Gospel  to  the  heathen  tribes,  prompted  the  liberality 
of  many  who  have  contributed  most  largely  to  the  funds 
which  the  Assembly  have  at  command ;  and  it  was  with 
the  deepest  regret  that  the  last  Assembly  found  that  they 
had  not  a  single  candidate  for  an  Indian  mission.  If 
your  Presbytery  can  nominate  one  who  is  well  qualified, 
it  will  be  an  important  acquisition." 

The  next  year  (1803)  the  desideratum  of  the  Assem- 
bly was  obtained.  The  Eev.  Gideon  Blackburn  was 
found  willing  to  engage  in  a  mission  to  the  Cherokee 
Indians. 

MISSION  TO  Mr.  Blackburn  was  accordingly  recoin- 
THE  CHEKOKEE  mendcd  by  the  Committee,  and  appointed 
INDIANS.  •  by  the  Assembly.  With  great  zeal,  ac- 
tivity, and  devotedness,  he  prosecuted  his  missionary 
undertaking  for  eight  years.  But  the  failure  of  his 
health  (in  1810),  and  a  necessary  removal  of  his  family 
to  a  greater  distance  from  the  field  of  missionary  labor, 
compelled  him  to  retire,  when  he  seemed  to  be  on  the 
point  of  reaping  the  fruits  of  his  toils  and  sufferings. 
This  was  a  subject  of  great  regret  to  the  Committee,  to 


FOEEIGN   OR  HEATHEIT  MISSIONS.  33 

the  Assembly,  and  to  many  others,  who  had  taken  a 
lively  interest  in  this  promising  mission. 

Mr.  Blackburn's  efforts  were  principally  directed  to 
the  establishment  of  schools  among  the  Cherokees.  By 
these  schools  he  hoped  to  promote  their  civilization,  to 
prepare  them  for  an  advantageous  hearing  of  the  Gospel 
in  public  preaching,  and  for  a  permanent  enjoyment  of 
its  ordinances.  He  also  had  it  in  view  to  qualify  the 
Indian  youth,  not  only  for  the  duties  of  secular  life,  but 
for  ministerial  usefulness,  when,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
any  of  them  should  become  practically  pious.  Two 
flourishing  schools  were  established  ;  for  the  support  of 
one  of  which,  he  made  himself  personally  and  exclu- 
sively responsible.  For  sustaining  the  other,  the  annual 
allowance  made  by  the  Assembly,  for  several  years,  was 
five  hundred  dollars ;  and  to  this,  in  one  year,  an  addi- 
tion of  three  hundred  dollars  was  made  by  the  New 
Jersey  Missionary  Society.  'Not  less  than  ten  thousand 
dollars  were  expended  on  this  mission  ;  more  than  half 
of  which  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Blackburn  himself,  in 
donations  and  contributions  which  he  received,  chiefly, 
in  a  journey  which  he  made  for  the  purpose  through  the 
New  England  States.  The  amount  of  his  receipts,  as 
stated  by  himself,  was  five  thousand  three  hundred  and 
forty-seven  dollars  and  ninety  cents. 

The  ability,  assiduity,  and  fidelity  of  Mr.  Blackburn 
in  his  missionary  employment,  not  only  among  the 
Indians,  but  in  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  white  popu- 
lation in  the  vicinity  of  the  Cherokee  country,  was  at- 
tested by  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  by 
other  respectable  individuals,  and  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Union.  The  rapid  improvement  of  the  youth  in  his 
Indian  schools  was  truly  surprising.  The  specimens  of 
their  handwriting,  and  of  some  articles  of  their  manu- 


34  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

facture,  whicli  were  transmitted  to  the  Committee, 
manifested  a  progress  in  improvement  of  the  most 
promising  kind.  In  1806,  there  were  in  the  two  schools 
seventy-five  scholars,  whose  proficiency  in  reading,  writ- 
ing, and  arithmetic  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tions which  had  previously  been  entertained.  But  the 
improvement  of  the  Cherokees,  during  the  mission  of 
Mr.  Blackburn,  was  not  confined  to  the  schools.  The 
Indians  in  general,  made  no  inconsiderable  progress  in 
many  of  the  common  and  most  useful  arts  of  life.  They 
assumed,  to  a  great  extent,  not  only  the  habits,  but  even 
the  form  of  government,  of  a  civilized  nation.  At  a  kind 
of  national  meeting,  they  formed  a  constitution,  chose 
a  legislative  body,  and  passed  a  number  of  laws,  among 
which  was  an  act  imposing  taxes  for  public  purposes. 

In  a  letter  from  Mr.  Blackburn,  of  January  5,  1810, 
the  following  interesting  statement  of  the  progress  of 
the  Cherokee  Indians,  towards  a  state  of  civilization, 
was  contained:  "In  the  nation  there  are  twelve  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  ninety-five  Indians.  The  num- 
ber of  females  exceeds  that  of  the  males,  by  two  hun- 
dred, Tlie  whites  in  the  nation  are  three  hundred  and 
forty-one.  Of  these,  there  are  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
who  have  Indian  wives.  Of  negro  slaves  there  are  five 
hundred  and  eighty-three.  The  number  of  their  cattle 
is  nineteen  thousand  five  hundred ;  of  their  horses  six 
thousand  one  hundred ;  of  their  hogs  nineteen  thousand 
six  hundred ;  of  their  sheep  one  thousand  and  thirty- 
seven.  They  have  now  in  actual  operation  thirteen  grist 
mills,  three  saw  mills,  three  saltpetre  works,  and  one 
powder  mill.  They  have  fifty  wagons ;  between  four 
hundred  and  eighty  and  five  hundred  ploughs;  one 
thousand  six  hundred  spinning  wheels ;  four  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  looms,  and  forty-nine  silversmiths. 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS. 


35 


"  Circulating  specie  is  supposed  to  be  as  plenty  among 
them  as  is  common  among  the  white  people.  Most  of 
these  advantages  they  have  acquired  since  the  year  1796, 
and  particularly  since  1803."  There  is  a  more  extended 
detail,  accompanied  by  calculations,  which  we  have  not 
room  to  insert ;  but  it  may  be  seen,  in  the  appendix  to 
Brown's  1st  volume  of  the  History  of  Missions,  page 

505. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  Standing  Committee  of 
Missions  of  the  Assembly,  to  prosecute  the  Cherokee 
Mission ;  but  while  they  were  looking  for  missionaries 
possessing  suitable  qualifications  for  the  work,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kingsbury,  acting  under  the  authority  of  the  Ameri- 
can  Board   of    Commissioners   for   Foreign   Missions, 
passed  through   Philadelphia,  to   occupy  the  field   in 
which  the  missionaries  of  the  General  Assembly  had 
been  laboring  for  eight  years.     When  Mr.  Kingsbury 
waited  on  the  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee,  to 
know  if  there  was  any  objection  to  his  mission  to  the 
Cherokees,  he  was  informed  that  the  Committee  could 
not  object  to  his  laboring  for  the  benefit  of  that  be- 
nighted people  ;  but  at  the  same  time,  he  was  distinctly 
apprised  of  their  design  to  resume  the  mission,  so  soon 
as  Providence  should  be  pleased  to  furnish  them  with 
suitable  missionaries.     The  subsequent  success  of  the 
missionaries  of  the  American  Board,  in  this  "line  of 
things  made  ready  to  their  hand,"  was  most  happy ;  and 
rendered  unnecessary  any  farther  efforts  of  the  Standing 
Committee   to   prosecute  a  mission   in   the   Cherokee 
country. 

MISSION  In  1805,  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 

AMONG  THE  Gcncral  Assembly  received  a  letter  (dated 

WYANDOT    October  23  of  that  year)  from  the  Secretary 

INDIANS,     of    "The  Board  of  Trust  of  the  Western 


36  PKESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

Missionary  Society,"  composed  of  members,  and  acting 
under  the  direction,  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  and 
chartered    by  the   State   of    Pennsylvania,   requesting 
pecuniary  aid  in  establishing  a  mission  among  the  Wy- 
andot Indians.     The  Committee  could  not  act  officially 
in  answer  to  the  request  of  the  Board  of   Trust,  till 
authorized  so  to  do  by  the  General  Assembly ;  but  one 
of    their   members   immediately  made   them    a   dona- 
tion of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  the  Assembly  of  the 
following  year   appropriated   four  hundred  dollars   to 
their   funds.      The  same   sum  was   awarded   to   them 
annually,  for  several  years  in  succession.     Sandusky,  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  was  selected  by  the  Board,  for  the 
location  of  their  missionary  establishment.     Their  ulti- 
mate design  was  to  evangelize  the  savages ;  but  to  facili- 
tate the  attainment  of  this  great  object,  they  organized 
a  school  for  the  instruction  of  their  children,  whom  they 
both  fed  and  clothed.     They  also  procured  land,  for  the 
purpose  of  assisting,  by  its  cultivation,  in  the  support  of 
the  establishment ;  as  well  as  to  instruct  and  engage  the 
Indians  in  the  business  of  farming.     On  the  farm,  they 
erected  the  necessary  buildings,  and  the  school  consisted 
of  from  thirty  to  forty  pupils.     This  mission  was  going 
on  in  a  very  prosperous  way,  till  the  war  of  1812;  when 
the  buildings  having  been  burned,  and  the  improvements 
destroyed  by  the  enemy,  the  mission  was  suspended. 
An  effort  was  made  to  revive  it  after  the  war,  but  with 

little  success. 

MISSION  AT  In  1814  the  Western  Board,  in  conse- 

cornplanter's  quence  of   a  personal  and  pressing  ap- 
TowN.  plication    from    Cornplanter,    a    distin- 

guished chief  of  the  Six  Nations,  resolved  to  establish 
a  mission  among  his  people.  The  Indians,  who  had 
requested    this    mission,    received    very    cordially    the 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  37 

missionary  and  sclioolmaster  who  were  sent  to  them, 
eno-aged  to  provide  for  their  own  cliildren  boarding 
and  lodging,  without  any  expense  to  the  Society ; 
and  the  chief  promised  to  furnish  a  school-house  and 
a  dwelling  for  the  teacher,  together  with  a  farm,  if 
it  should  be  judged  necessary  to  promote  the  design 
of  the  mission.  This  chief  seemed  to  have  a  deep 
sense  of  the  importance  of  the  Christian  religion,  both 
for  himself  and  his  people;  and  to  be  exceedingly 
desirous  that  they  should  learn  and  practice  the  arts 
and  usages  of  civilized  life.  The  General  Assembly 
agreed  to  allow  three  hundred  dollars  toward  the  sup- 
port of  this  mission.  But  the  instruction  of  these 
Indians  was,  after  a  short  time,  assumed  by  another  de- 
nomination of  Christians ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  1818,  the 
school  at  Corn  planter's  town,  owing  to  the  occurrence  of 
several  obstacles,  and  the  removal  of  a  number  of  the 
Indian  families  from  the  town  and  the  adjacent  country, 
was  discontinued.  The  Board  of  Trust,  reluctant  to  lose 
altogether  the  fruits  of  their  labor  and  liberality,  en- 
deavored to  persuade  a  number  of  the  Indian  boys,  who 
had  made  some  considerable  progress,  to  prosecute  their 
education ;  and  offered,  as  an  encouragement,  to  bring 
them  into  Christian  society,  and  to  clothe,  support,  and 
instruct  them  gratuitously.  This  benevolent  offer,  how- 
ever, was  not  accepted,  and  the  Board  were  compelled, 
at  least  for  a  time,  to  resign  their  hopes  of  further 
success. 

[The  Cornplanter  station  is  again,  in  1891,  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  connection  with  the 
mission  to  the  Seneca  Indians.  Brief  but  interesting 
accounts  of  its  condition  are  given  in  the  recent  Annual 
Reports  of  the  Board.  The  band  consists  now  of  about  a 
hundred  souls,  and  most  of  the  adults  are  members  of 


38  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

tlie  Churcli.    Under  the  Board  of  Trust  tlieir  settlement 
was  visited,  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  them  by  such  pas- 
tors as  Messrs.  McPherrin  and  Tait,  and  several  years  were 
spent  in  their  service  by  lay  missionaries.] 
MISSION  AT        In    1814,   a    mission    at    Lewistown   in 
LEwisTowN,   Ohio  was  projected,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
OHIO.        Indians  in  that  vicinity.     In  the  following 
year,  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were  granted  to 
the  Kev.  James  Hughes,  who  was  about  to  remove  to 
Ohio,  and   offered   to   undertake  the  mission.      Here, 
as  elsewhere,  the  prospect  of  benefiting  the  benighted 
pagans   seemed   to  be  highly  promising,   and   yet  it 
ended  in  disappointment.      It  is  deserving  of  notice, 
that  however  unproductive  of  other  beneficial  results, 
were  the  Indian  Missions  undertaken  and  patronized  by 
the  General  Assembly,  they  seem  to  have  had  a  happy 
effect  in  preventing  savage  barbarities,  on  the  frontiers 
of  our  country.     It  appears  that  not  one  of  the  tribes 
that  the  Assembly  attempted  to  evangelize,  took  any 
hostile  part  in  the  existing  conflict,  during  the  war  of 

1812. 

In  1816,  the  General  Assembly  adopted  measures 
which  resulted  next  year  in  the  establishment  of  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 
UNITED  Beheving  that  a  new  Society  for  conducting 
FOREIGN  Foreign  Missions  might  be  advantageously 
SOCIETY,  formed,  the  Assembly  of  that  year  entered  into 
a  correspondence  on  the  subject,  with  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  and  the  Associated  Reformed  Church. 
The  proposition  made,  met  with  a  cordial  reception 
from  the  supreme  judicatories  of  these  sister  Churches ; 
and  the  Committee  which  had  been  appointed  to  manage 
the  concern  on  the  part  of  the  Assembly,  reported,  at 
the  next  meeting  of  that  body,  the  Constitution  which 


l^OKEIGN   OE  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  39 

had  been  prepared  for  the  contemplated  Society;  and 
which,  after  some  amendments,  adopted  in  the  following 
year,  stood  as  expressed  in  the  following  articles : 

"  1.  The  Society  shall  be  composed  of  the  Presby- 
terian, Keformed  Dutch,  and  Associate  Reformed 
Churches,  and  all  others  who  may  choose  to  join  them  ; 
and  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  The  United  Foreign 
Missionary  Society. 

"  2.  The  object  of  the  Society  shall  be,  to  spread  the 
Gospel  among  the  Indians  of  North  America,  the  inhab- 
itants of  Mexico,  and  South  America,  and  other  portions 
of  the  heathen  and  anti-Christian  world. 

"  3.  The  business  of  the  Society  shall  be  conducted 
by  a  Board,  consisting  of  a  President,  six  Yice-Presi- 
dents,  a  Corresponding  Secretary,  a  Recording  Secre- 
tary, a  Treasurer,  and  eighteen  Managers,  to  be  annually 
chosen  by  the  Society.  They  shall  have  power  to  enact 
their  own  by-laws.     Seven  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

"4.  The  Board  shall  present  their  annual  report  to 
the  highest  judicatory  of  the  three  denominations,  for 
their  information. 

"  5.  Any  person  paying  three  dollars  annually,  or 
thirty  dollars  at  one  time,  shall  be  a  member  of  the 
Society ;  and  any  person  presenting  to  the  Society  a 
donation  of  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars,  shall  be 
a  director  for  life,  and  entitled  to  a  seat  and  vote  in 
the  Board  of  Managers. 

"  6.  The  President,  Treasurer,  and  Secretary  of  any 
Society  auxiliary  to  this,  shall  be  ex  officio  members  of 
the  Board  of  Managers. 

"  7.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  be  authorized  to  fill 
any  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  the  Board. 

"  8.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  shall  be  in  the 
city  of  Kew  York  on  the . 


40  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

"9.  Missionaries  shall  be  Belccted  from  the  tlirce 
Churclies  indiscriminately. 

"10.  This  Constitution  maybe  altered  by  a  vote  of 
two-thirds  of  the  members  present  at  an  annual  meeting, 
with  the  consent  of  the  highest  judicatory  of  the  three 
dcnoin  illations." 

The  operations  of  this  Society  were  commenced  with 
vigor  and  unanimity,  and  with  prospects  apj^arently  the 
most  auspicious.     The  United  States  Government,  then 
under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  Monroe,  gave  it  counten- 
ance and  patronage— allotting  to  its  establishments  a 
liberal   portion  of  the  fund  annually  ap])ropriated  by 
Congress  to  the  civilization  of  the  Indians.     The  Super- 
intendent of  Indian  Trade,  Col.  Thomas  L.  McKenney, 
could  scarcely  have  cmbarl<ed  in  its  favor  witii  more 
zeal  and  activity,  if  the  whole  concern  had  been  his  own. 
The  supreme  judicatories  of  the  united  denominations, 
made  earnest  and  repeated  appeals  to  the  Churches  under 
their  supervision— urging  them  to  liberal  contributions 
to  8up])ort  the  establiBliments  which  they  were  pledged 
to  sustain,  and  to  earnest,  united,  and  constant  prayer 
for   their   success.     Numerous   auxiliary    Societies  and 
Associations  were  formed,  to  aid  the  operations  of  the 
general  Board ;  and  toward  the  close  of  its  existence, 
subordinate  Boards  of  Agency  were  established  at  Pitts- 
burgh, Cincinnati,  Louisville  in  Kentucky,  and  St.  Louis 
in  Missouri.     An  interesting  monthly  publication,  en- 
titled The  American  Missionary  Register^  was  issued, 
containing  particular  information  of  the  state,  progress, 
prospects,  and  necessities  of  the  several  Missions  under 
the  direction  of  the  Board,  and  a  general  survey  of  other 
missions,  both  domestic  and  foi-eign,  with  biogra]iliical 
notices  of  eminent  deceased  missionaries.    The  appointed 
officers  and    agents  of  the  Society  were  active  and 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  41 

laborious,  as  well  as  intelligent,  in  the  discharf^c  of  their 
duties  severally ;  and  the  missionaries  they  employed 
were  in  general  competent,  as  well  as  faithful,  devoted, 
and  persevering — not  disheartened  by  the  sickness  which 
often  prevailed,  and  the  deaths  which  not  unfrequeutly 
occurred  among  them. 

No  extended  detail  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Board, 
or  of  the  results  of  its  plans  and  efforts,  can  be  given  in 
this  compendious  view.  The  writer  is  indebted  to  the 
kindness  of  the  Secretary  for  domestic  correspondence, 
Mr.  Z.  Lewis,  for  a  summary  statement  of  the  missions 
established,  and  of  some  other  important  particulars,  of 
which  he  will  avail  himself;  and  to  which  he  will  sub- 
join a  few  additional  remarks.  Mr.  Lewis  states,  that 
"  The  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  established  in 
1820,  the  Union  Mission,  among  the  Osages  of  the 
Arkansas;  in  1821,  the  Harmony  Mission,  among  the 
Osages  of  the  Missouri ;  in  1822,  the  Cattaraugus  Mission, 
in  Western  New  York  ;  in  1823,  the  Mackinaw  Mission, 
in  ]\richigan  Territory;  in  1824,  the  Ilaytian  Mission,  in 
the  Island  of  IFayti  ;  in  all,  five  nn'ssions.  Four  other 
missions  were  transferred  to  us.,  as  follows  :  in  1821,  the 
Tuscarora  and  Seneca  Missions,  by  the  New  York  Mis- 
sionary Society ;  in  1823,  the  Fort  Gratiot  Mission,  in 
Michigan,  by  the  Northern  Missionary  Society ;  and  in 
1825,  the  Maumee  Mission,  on  the  Maumee  River,  by 
the  Western  Missionary  Society  at  Pittsburgh.  Thus 
when  our  missionary  interests  were  transferred  to  the 
American  l^oard  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions, 
we  had  under  our  care  nine  Missions,  embracing  sixty 
male  and  female  missionaries;  two  hundred  and  fifty 
children  and  youth,  including  six  beneficiaries  at  the 
Foreign  Mission  School  in  Coimecticut ;  and  more  than 
forty  native  converts  to  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  Gospel." 


42  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

THE  TWO  In  a  brief  review  of  the  missions  thus  men- 
osAGE  tioned  by  Mr.  Lewis,  it  is  painful  to  remark, 
MISSIONS,  that  the  two  Osage  Missions,  although  the 
first  established,  and  always  the  most  expensive,  yet 
were  those  in  which  there  was  the  least  success.  Till 
about  the  middle  of  August,  1823,  when,  by  the  inter- 
position and  influence  of  tlie  agents  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment, peace  was  established  among  the  Osages  and 
the  Cherokees,  there  had  been,  between  those  tribes, 
from  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  missionaries  in  the 
Osage  country,  a  state  of  ceaseless  hostility.  From  this 
cause,  the  mission  families  were  often  placed  in  very 
perilous  circumstances ;  and  though,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  a  kind  Providence,  they  eventually  escaped  per- 
sonal violence,  and  sustained  no  material  loss  of  property, 
yet  their  plans  and  efforts  for  the  benefit  of  the  benighted 
pagans  were  all  marred  and  constantly  held  in  check. 
Beside  the  erection  of  mills,  the  enclosure  and  cultiva- 
tion of  large  fields,  and  the  establishment  of  a  smithery, 
schools  were  opened,  and  the  Indians  were  invited  and 
urged  to  send  their  children  for  instruction.  But  a  gen- 
eral and  standing  excuse  for  keeping  them  from  school 
was,  the  danger  to  which  they  would  be  exposed  from 
their  enemies,  if  absent  from  their  parents.  That  this 
excuse  was  little  else  than  a  pretence,  was  proved  by  the 
slow  and  small  increase  of  the  schools,  after  the  restora- 
tion of  peace.  In  August,  1823,  there  were  in  the 
school  at  Harmony,  but  eighteen  children,  thirteen  girls 
and  five  boys ;  and  at  the  Union  school,  the  whole  num- 
ber was  only  thirteen.  In  1825,  the  school  at  Harmony 
had  reached  its  maximum  number  of  thirty-six  pupils  ; 
and  at  Union  the  number  varied  from  fourteen  to 
twenty;  and  in  the  few  instances  in  which  some  se- 
rious impressions  of  religion  seemed  to  be  made,  the 


foiieig:n:  or  heathen  missions.  43 

hopes  of  the  missionaries  were  ultimately  disappoint- 
ed. 

If  there  was  ever  a  single  Osage  who  became  a  Chris- 
tian convert,  and  held  fast  his  integrity,  it  is  unknown 
to  the  author  of  this  sketch  ;  so  that  the  native  converts 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Lewis,  must  have  been  among  the 
heathen  of  the  other  missionary  stations.  At  those  lo- 
cated in  western  New  York,  it  is  known  that  promising 
Christian  churches  were  established;  a  considerable 
number  of  hopeful  converts  were  also  made  at  other 
missionary  stations,  whose  members  were  mostly  native 
Indians. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  the  writer  has  seen  with 
pleasure,  in  the  Missionary  Heraldiax  March,  1838,  the 
following  statement  from  a  missionary  to  the  Cherokees 
of  Arkansas :  "  The  Osage  young  woman,  who  has  been 
brought  up  by  the  mission,  aids  in  the  management  of 
the  girls  out  of  school.  She  has  been  a  professor  of 
religion  for  several  years,  and  seems  to  be  a  true  fol- 
lower of  Christ." 

The  want  of  success  among  the  Osages  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  attributable  to  any  defect  of  fidehty, 
zeal,  or  diligence  in  the  missionaries  employed  by  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society ;  and  whatever  appear- 
ances of  a  change  for  the  better,  if  such  there  were, 
under  the  management  of  the  American  Board,  those 
appearances  must  have  been  temporary  and  evanescent. 
The  Missionary  Herald  ior  the  month  of  January,  of  the 
present  year,  contains  the  following  melancholy  state- 
ment :  "  Mr.  Kequa,  the  only  remaining  individual  of 
the  Osage  mission,  and  who  had  himself  nearly  deter- 
mined to  abandon  his  work  there  in  discouragement, 
visited  their  towns  last  autumn.  It  seemed  to  him 
that  the  providence  of   God  was  clearly  calling  to   a 


44  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

re-establisliment  of  the  mission,  and  accordingly,  after 
corresponding  with  the  Committee,  he  examined  their 
reservation,  and  selected  a  favorable  spot  for  a  large 
agricultural  colony,  and  made  considerable  progress  in 
preparing  the  requisite  buildings  and  other  improve- 
ments. A  preacher  and  schoolmaster  were  expected  to 
join  him,  as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit.  But 
during  the  past  summer,  the  hostility  of  other  portions 
of  the  tribe  to  the  new  estabUshment,  and  apparently 
to  all  measures  for  introducing  Christian  knowledge 
and  the  arts  of  civilized  life  among  them,  became 
manifest.  So  great  was  the  annoyance  suffered,  and  so 
little  prospect  of  usefulness,  or  even  of  safety  to  the 
settlers  and  the  mission  property,  did  there  seem  to  be, 
that  in  the  month  of  July,  Mr.  Kequa  removed  his 
effects,  and  left  the  reservation.  No  mission  station  is 
maintained  among  the  Osages." 

The  last  accounts  from  the  Osage  tribe,  represent 
this  unhappy  people  as  in  the  most  deplorable  state  of 
misery  and  destitution— suffering  and  dying  of  absolute 

famine. 

THE  The  Cattaraugus  Mission  was  located  near 

CATTARAUGUS  thc  sliorcs  of  LalvC  Erie,  about  thirty  miles 
MISSION.  from  Buffalo.  The  Indians  of  this  station 
were  only  a  section  of  the  Seneca  tribe ;  and  both  the 
Senecas  and  Tuscaroras  were  greatly  divided  on  the  sub- 
ject of  receiving  Christian  missionaries,  the  Christian 
"party  being  earnestly  in  favor  of  their  reception,  and  the 
more  numerous  pagan  party  decisively  opposed  to  their 
instructions,  and  even  to  their  residing  on  the  Indian 
reservations.  The  principal  chief  of  the  Seneca  nation, 
known  by  the  name  of  Eed  Jacket,  was  avowedly 
and  till  the  day  of  his  death,  which  but  recently 
occurred,     determinately     and     inveterately      hostile. 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEN"  MISSIONS.  45 

both  to  civilization  and  tlie  Cbristian  religion.  The 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  however,  were 
fortunate  enough  to  secure  the  services  of  a  teacher, 
who,  under  their  patronage,  estabhshed  the  most  pros- 
perous school  at  this  station  which  they  ever  founded. 
The  managers,  in  their  eighth  report,  the  last  before  the 
transfer  to  the  American  Board,  speaking  of  the  Catta- 
raugus Mission,  make  the  following  statement :  "  The 
continued  progress  of  this  Mission  is  highly  gratifying 
to  your  Managers.  The  school,  at  our  last  anniversary, 
embraced  forty-five  children,  twenty-five  having  since 
been  added,  the  present  number  is  seventy.  By  their 
general  deportment,  by  the  proficiency  they  have  made 
in  learning  to  read  and  write,  and  the  cheerfulness  and 
skill  with  which  they  have  performed  the  duties  assigned 
to  them  out  of  school,  the  children  have  gained  the 
commendation  and  esteem  of  their  instructors.  Some  of 
the  older  boys  have  manifested  a  more  than  ordinary 
seriousness  of  character.  Impressed  with  a  sense  of 
their  danger  as  sinners,  they  have  been  discovered  in 
little  weeping  circles,  renouncing  the  pagan's  hope,  and 
uniting  their  hearts  in  prayer  to  the  Christian's  God  and 
Saviour.  Several  of  the  chiefs,  in  the  view  of  your 
Superintendent,  give  evidence  of  piety.  They  are  anx- 
iously looking  forward  to  the  appointment  of  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel  for  that  station ;  and  are  only  waiting  the 
organization  of  a  missionary  church,  to  make  a  public 
and  formal  renunciation  of  the  pagan  standard,  and  to 
enroll  their  names  under  the  banner  of  the  cross." 

THE  The  Mackinaw  Mission,  on  the  island  of 

MACKiNA-w  Michilimacinach,  in  the  strait  or  broad  stream 
MISSION,     which  connects  Lake  Huron  with  Lake  Mich- 
igan, was  supposed  to  occupy  a  position  peculiarly  favor- 
able to  extensive  missionary  operations.   In  the  report  of 


46  PEESBTTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

the  Managers,  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  article,  they 
say :  "In  the  opinion  of  the  Superintendent  [of  this  mis- 
sion] the  field  of  missionary  labor  at  this  station,  may  be 
just  as  wide  as  the  most  extended  charities  and  active  ex- 
ertions of  the  Church  please  to  make  it."  This  opinion 
is  confirmed  by  a  letter  from  a  respectable  officer  of  the 
garrison  at  Sault  de  St.  Marie,  and  by  the  verbal  com- 
munications of  a  judicious  and  intelligent  citizen  of  that 
place.  They  all  concur  in  the  opinion,  that  Mackinaw, 
in  point  of  local  situation,  is  better  calculated  for  a  mis- 
sionary establishment,  than  any  other  part  of  that  west- 
ern region;  and  that,  to  future  missionaries,  it  will  prove 
the  key  of  entrance  into  a  number  of  distant  and  popu- 
lous tribes." 

The  Kev.  William  M.  Ferry,  who  had  previously 
resided  at  Mackinaw  for  about  ten  months,  and  who 
tendered  his  services  to  the  Board,  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  Mission.  A  letter  of  instructions  was 
sent  to  his  residence  at  Northampton,  in  Massachusetts, 
and  he  speedily  repaired,  with  his  wife,  to  the  place  of 
his  destination.  A  promising  school  was  opened,  which 
at  the  time  the  mission  was  transferred,  in  its  infant 
state,  to  the  American  Board,  contained  nearly  fifty 
Indian  children.  A  female  teacher,  in  addition  to  Mrs. 
Ferry,  was  employed  in  this  school. 

THE  The  Haytian  Mission  was  intended  for  the 

HAYTiAN  benefit  of  the  colored  people  of  the  United  States, 
MISSION,  who,  influenced  by  the  favorable  prospects  pre- 
sented to  them  in  Hayti,  by  the  constituted  authorities 
of  that  island,  resorted  thither  in  great  numbers,  in  1824. 
The  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  appointed  two 
missionaries  of  the  colored  race,  Mr.  Pennington,  of  New 
York,  and  Mr.  Hughes,  of  Philadelphia,  both  ordained 
ministers,  to  visit  Hayti;  to  preach  to  the  emigrants,  and 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  47 

when  circumstances  sliould  favor,  to  form  one  or  more 
Presbyterian  churches  among  them.  They  repaired  to 
tlie  field  of  their  missionary  labor  ;  but  soon  left  it,  with- 
out effecting  anything  valuable,  although  they  were 
kindly  received.  A  ruling  elder  of  the  First  African 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia  has  stated  to  the 
writer,  since  this  sketch  has  been  in  preparation,  that  he 
was  in  Hayti  when  the  missionaries  arrived ;  that  he 
became  acquainted  with  them ;  that  such  were  the  dis- 
couraging circumstances  in  which  they  found  the  emi- 
grants, that  they  scarcely  attempted  to  preach  ;  that  they 
stayed  on  the  Island  not  more  than  three  months,  and 
then  returned  to  this  country;  as  did  many  others 
who  were  disappointed  like  themselves. 

THE  The  Tuscarora  Mission,  located  about  four 

TU8CAR0RA  mllcs  cast  of   Lewistown,  Niagara  County, 
MISSION.     New  York,  had  been  under  the  care  of  the 
New  York  Missionary  Society  about  twenty  years,  when 
it  was  transferred  to  the  United  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  in  1821.     At  the  time  of  the  transfer,  the  es- 
tablishment possessed   a   missionary  farm   of  about  a 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  with  a  good  house,  barn,  and 
orchard  ;  about  forty  acres  of  the  farm  were  enclosed,  and 
under  the  cultivation  of  an  experienced  farmer,  with  his 
family.  There  was  at  the  station,  one  missionary,  the  Eev. 
James  C.  Crane ;  a  regularly  organized  church,  compris- 
ing seventeen  Indian  members;  and  preparations  had 
been  made  to  erect  a  new  council-house,  and  also  a  church 
edifice  of  larger  dimensions  and  more  convenient  struc- 
ture, than  that  which  had  hitherto  been  occupied.     The 
Indians  generally  lived  in  comfortable  dwellings,  and 
had  made   no  inconsiderable  progress  in  civilization, 
possessed  a  good  deal  of  property,  all  the  implements  of 
husbandry,  and  some  of  their  youth  had  made  good  pro- 


48  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

ficiencj  in  the  elementary  parts  of  an  English  education. 
This  mission  was  somewhat  improved,  daring  the  five 
years  it  was  under  the  care  of  the  United  Society,  but 
the  details  cannot  be  inserted  in  this  limited  sketch.  The 
result  may  be  judged  of  by  a  single  extract  from  the 
journal  of  its  Superintendent,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Harris, 
written  three  months  after  it  had  been  made  over  to  the 
American  Board.  The  extract  relates  to  a  sacramental 
season,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Angust  29, 1826.  Went  to  the  Tuscarora  village  on 
Saturday,  and  met  with  the  Church  and  congregation 
on  the  Sabbath.  The  assembly,  though  small,  appeared 
to  be  devout.  To  me  it  was  a  jDrivilege  truly  dehghtful, 
to  hold  out  to  the  scattered  of  Christ's  flock  on  this 
thirsty  hill,  the  symbols  of  a  Saviour's  death ;  and  to 
witness  with  what  tears  of  joy  and  thankfulness  many 
came  forward,  and  received  the  tokens  of  his  love. 

"  There  has  been  at  this  station,  for  a  few  months  past, 
a  more  than  usual  seriousness  among  some  of  the  young 
people.  Six  or  seven  persons  have  appeared  for  some 
time,  to  he  anxiously  inquiring  the  way  to  heaven.  I 
requested  all  the  inquirers  to  meet  me  on  Monday  after- 
noon. I  was  deeply  affected  with  the  indications  of  the 
Divine  Spirit  with  us.  Such  appeared  to  be  the  tender- 
ness of  conscience,  the  deep  and  powerful  conviction  of 
the  hatefulness  of  sin,  and  the  earnestness  of  desire  to  be 
delivered  from  its  power,  that  I  could  not  for  a  moment 
doubt,  that  God  had  been  among  them  by  his  Spirit ; 
and  in  the  case  of  three  or  four  '  wounded  mightily.' 
Some  of  these  persons  were  so  affected  in  conversing 
with  me,  that  they  sobbed  and  cried  aloud  for  some 
time.  They  say  that  frequently  they  have  such  an  awful 
sense  of  their  past  iniquity,  that  they  cannot  help  crying 
out." 


FOEEIGN   OE  HEATHEIS-  MISSIONS.  49 

THE  The  Seneca  Mission  was  located  four  or  five 

SENECA  miles  from  Buffalo,  near  the  outlet  of  Lake 
MISSION.  Erie,  and  was  commenced  by  the  Kew  York 
Missionary  Society  in  1811,  and  transferred  to  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  along  with  the 
Tuscarora  Mission,  in  1821.  When  assumed  by  the  latter 
Society,  the  property  of  this  mission  consisted  of  two 
dwelling-houses  and  a  school-house,  together  with  the  use, 
for  an  indefinite  period,  of  the  ground  on  which  they  were 
erected.  This  tribe,  doubtless  under  the  influence  of 
Eed  Jacket,  their  principal  chief,  had  refused  to  permit 
a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  to  reside  among  them  ;  although 
they  allowed  a  school  to  be  opened  for  the  instruction  of 
their  children  ;  and  the  teacher  of  this  school,  with  his 
wife,  were  the  only  missionaries  at  this  station,  when  it 
was  relinquished  by  the  New  York  Missionary  Society. 
Immediately  afterwards,  however,  two  additional  female 
teachers  were  appointed  for  the  school ;  and  the  Christian 
party  now  requested  the  United  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  to  send  them  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  who 
might  reside  in  the  near  neighborhood,  but  not  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Indian  reservation.  This  request, 
after  some  time,  was  granted,  and  public  worship  was 
performed  in  the  mission  house  of  the  establishment.  In 
April,  1823,  a  missionary  church  was  organized,  consist- 
ing of  four  men,  three  of  whom  were  chiefs ;  and  on 
this  occasion,  the  congregation  assembled  in  the  councU- 
house. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  rejected  a  petition  pre- 
sented to  them,  praying  that  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
might  be  permitted  to  reside  on  the  Indian  lands ;  and 
at  one  time  the  civil  authorities  of  that  State  entirely 
disbanded  and  broke  up  the  Seneca  Mission.  The 
Indians  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  redress,  and  their 


60  PEESBYTEEIAT^"   MISSIONS. 

application  was,  in  the  first  instance,  refused ;  but  a 
second  application,  in  which  a  large  number  of  their 
chiefs  and  warriors  joined,  was  successful,  and  the  mis- 
sion was  resumed.  The  school  which  was  established  at 
this  station,  was  of  a  most  promising  character,  and  when 
transferred  to  the  American  Board,  consisted  of  fortj- 
three  pupils ;  but  it  is  believed  that  no  more  of  the  native 
Indians  than  the  four  individuals  already  mentioned, 
belonged  to  the  mission  church  at  that  time. 

[The  Seneca,  Tuscarora,  and  Tonawanda  Missions,  in 
"Western  'New  York,  after  their  connection  with  the 
American  Board  until  1870,  with  an  encouraging 
record,  were  then  transferred  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  They  are  still 
under  its  care,  and  are  reported  as  in  a  prospering 
condition. — See  Annual  Keport,  1892,  pages  151-153. 
The  number  of  communicants  in  six  churches  is  3Y2,  of 
whom  47  were  received  last  year.] 
THE  FOKT  The  Fort  Gratiot  Mission,  in  the  Michigan 
GRATIOT  Territory,  was  located  on  the  river  St.  Clair, 
MISSION,  about  one  mile  below  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Huron ;  and  when  transferred  by  the  Northern  Mis- 
sionary Society,  it  consisted  of  one  male  and  two  female 
teachers,  and  an  Indian  school  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
children. 

The  author  of  this  sketch  has  not  been  able  to  obtain 
any  information  relative  to  the  changes  which  may  have 
taken  place,  for  the  better  or  the  worse,  in  this  mission, 
during  the  time,  about  two  years  and  a  half,  that  it  was 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  United  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

THE  The  Maumee  Mission,  organized  in  1822,  by 

MAUMEE  the  Board  of  Trust  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh 
MISSION,   and   transferred   to   the  United   Foreign  Mis- 


FOEEIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  51 

sionary  Society  in  1825,  was  located  on  tlie  Maumee 
Eiver,  near  Fort  Meigs,  in  Wood  County,  and  State 
of  Ohio.  This  mission  was  under  the  superintendence 
of  the  Society  to  which  it  was  transferred,  but  about 
seven  months ;  and  probably  underwent  no  changes  what- 
ever during  that  period.  In  giving  a  compendious  view  of 
it,  therefore,  the  writer  will  avail  himself  of  communica- 
tions received  from  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Swift,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Trust,  relative  to  the  origin  of  the  mis- 
sion, and  to  its  general  state  and  operations,  while  con- 
nected with  that  Board.  The  substance  of  Mr.  Swift's 
statement  is  as  follows : 

"  The  Board  of  Trust  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
after  various  incipient  measures,  resolved,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  Pittsburgh,  February  6, 1822,  to  institute,  in  the 
coming  summer,  a  mission  among  the  Ottaway  Indians, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Maumee  River.  At  a  subsequent 
meeting,  the  Rev.  Elisha  McCurdy  was  appointed  to 
repair  to  the  Land-office  in  Ohio,  and  enter  for  the  Board, 
from  one  to  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  adjoining  the 
Indian  reservation  ;  and  from  thence  proceed  to  the  site 
of  the  contemplated  mission,  and  superintend  the  erec- 
tion of  suitable  buildings  for  their  accommodation.  After 
the  close  of  the  Synod  in  the  fall,  the  Board  having, 
during  the  preceding  summer,  conferred  with  and  ap- 
pointed various  persons  for  the  intended  service,  met  in 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  and  with  appropriate  religious 
exercises,  constituted  a  mission  family,  to  go  to  the  said 
Ottaway  tribe  of  Indians.  The  family  consisted  of 
twenty-one  individuals;  two  of  them  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  and  two  others,  teachers  for  a  school  intended  to 
be  opened ;  the  others,  many  of  whom  were  females, 
were  to  be  employed  as  assistants  to  the  family,  the 
school  and  the  farm.     The  Rev.  Samuel  Tait  was  ap- 


62  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

pointed,  pro  tempore,  the  Superintendent  of  the  mission. 
After  having  thus  been  set  apart  to  their  work,  the  mis- 
sionary family  repaired  to  their  field  of  labor.     A  prom- 
ising school   was    shortly   afterwards    opened;    stated 
meetings  were  commenced— the  missionai-ies  preaching 
through  an  interpreter— and  improvements  on  the  land 
purchased  were  undertaken.     The  Eev.  Mr.  Tait,  having 
fulfilled  his  temporary   appointment,  returned    to   his 
people  in  the  spring ;  and  in  September  following,  (1823), 
the  Eev.  Ludovicus  Robbins,  then  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Washington,  Pennsylvania,  having  been  appointed  to 
succeed  Mr.  Tait,  in  July  preceding,  was  pubhcly  set  apart 
as  Superintendent  of  the  mission,  and  joined  his  brethren 
at  the  station  shortly  afterwards.     One  of  the  preachers 
and   one   other    individual,  did    not  continue   long  in 
connection  with  the  mission ;  but  their  places  were  sup- 
plied by  a  physician  (who  was  also  to  act  as  schoolmaster), 
his  wife,  and  another  female  missionary.     Up  to  the 
autumn  of  1825,  at  which  time  the  station,  on  apphca- 
tion  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  was  trans- 
ferred to  that  Board,  was  well  sustained— chiefly  by  the 
churches  within  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh ; 
although  the  Board  were,  for  the  whole  period,  consider- 
ably engaged  in  appointing  and  sustaining  missionaries 
in  feeble  churches,  and  in  new  and  destitute  settlements. 
"  As  to  the  results  of  the  Mission,  I  could  not  easily 
give  jou  particulars ;  and  besides,  you  will  perceive  from 
the  date  of  the  transfer,  that  the  station  did  not  continue 
under  our  care  long  after  its  operations  were  fairly  com- 
menced.    We  had  a  promising  school  at  the  station,  for 
the  most  of  the  time ;  and  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  two 
or  three  of  its  pupils  became  hopefully  pious.     Through 
the  instrumentahty  of  the  missionaries,  much  good  was 
done  to  one  or  two  infant  churches  in  the  white  settle- 


FOEEIGN   OE  HEATHEN   MISSIONS.  53 

ments,  in  the  vicmity,  which  were  supplied  with  the 
means  of  grace  by  them.  In  the  year  1823,  the  Board 
appointed  the  Rev.  Robert  M.  Laird,  pastor  of  the  church 
at  Princess  Ann,  Maryland,  as  an  exploring  agent,  to 
visit  the  region  of  the  Upper  Lakes,  to  labor  at  the 
Military  station  at  the  Sault  de  St.  Marie,  Michigan 
Territory,  and  to  hold  consultations  with  the  various 
tribes  of  Indians  in  that  region,  on  the  subject  of  mis- 
sionary schools,  and  in  general  to  collect  information 
from  various  quarters,  on  all  points  connected  with  the 
tribes,  character,  number,  and  wants  of  the  Aborigines 
of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Laird  spent  about  nine 
months  in  that  service,  principally  laboring  at  the  Mili- 
tary post,  and  in  the  garrison.  A  considerable  revival 
of  religion  took  place  among  the  officers  and  soldiers, 
under  his  ministry,  and  numbers  gave  credible  evidence 
of  a  change  of  heart.  The  Board  contemplated  the 
establishment  of  a  mission  in  the  region  of  Lake  Superior ; 
but  the  proposal  and  prospect  of  the  transfer  of  their 
operations  to  New  York,  led  them  to  defer  any  further 
measures  at  the  time." 

The  Missionary  Herald  for  the  month  of  April,  1826, 
furnishes,  from  a  report  to  which  Mr.  Swift  refers,  some 
important  information  relative  to  the  Indian  school  at 
Maumee.     A  part  of  it  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  number  of  scholars  in  the  school  is  thirty-one, 
of  whom  seventeen  are  boys.  Six  of  the  pupils  are  from 
the  Chippeway  tribe,  nine  areWyandots,  three  Potawa- 
tomies,  four  Ottawas,  four  Miamies,  four  Shawnees,  and 
one  Munsee.  Their  ages  are  from  seven  to  twenty-two ; 
one,  however,  is  twenty-seven.  Twenty  can  read  the 
Bible,  thirteen  write,  five  are  studying  arithmetic,  four 
geography,  and  three  grammar."  A  part  of  a  letter  is 
then  given  from  Mr.  Yan  Tassel,  the  teacher  of  the 


64  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

school,  of  wbicli  the  following  are  extracts:  "Before  I 
came  here,  I  had  taught  school  several  years,  and  I  can 
assure  you,  sir,  that  these  scholars  excel  in  writing  any 
white  children  I  ever  taught.  In  short,  the  children  are 
all  making  such  progress  in  their  studies  as  affords  a  high 
degree  of  satisfaction  to  their  instructors,  and  we  pre- 
sume that  could  our  patrons  and  Christian  friends  wit- 
ness their  docility,  their  submission  to  authority,  and 
the  eagerness  with  which  they  listen  to  instruction 
drawn  from  the  Bible,  they  would  not  feel  as  if  they 
were  laboring  in  vain,  or  spending  their  money  for 
naught.  For  a  few  weeks  past,  the  scholars  have  been 
exercising  their  talents  in  writing  composition,  and  they 
frequently  hand  billets  to  their  teacher  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family."  Copies  of  three  of  these  billets 
are  then  given,  after  which  the  teacher  adds :  "  Many 
more  equally  good  have  been  handed  in,  but  these  will 
be  sufficient  to  give  a  specimen  of  their  improvement, 
and  show  you  the  state  of  their  minds.  They  all  appear 
united,  cheerful,  and  happy — as  much  or  more  so  than 
could  reasonably  be  expected,  while  they  are  destitute  of 
the  benign  religion  of  Jesus.  O  if  they  could  all  enjoy 
this,  we  should  have  a  little  paradise  here  below.  For 
this  we  pray,  and  for  this  we  beg  a  special  interest  in 
your  prayers  to  Almighty  God,  with  whom  is  the  residue 
of  the  Spirit." 

Having  completed  a  survey  of  the  missions  instituted 
by  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  of  those 
received  under  its  care,  it  may  now  be  proper  to  inquire 
what  were  the  causes  which  had  influence  in  producing 
the  transfer  of  all  its  concerns  to  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  the  consequent 
dissolution  of  the  Society  itself.  A  heavy  debt,  con- 
tracted by  the  Society,  and  which  it  knew  not  how  to 


FOEEIGN   OR   HEATHEN   MISSIOI^S.  55 

meet,  was  tlie  principal  cause  publicly  assigned  for  this 
transfer,  at  the  time  it  was  made.  That  this  was  one 
cause  is  not  questioned  ;  hut  that  it  was  not  the  onlj,  or 
even  the  chief  cause,  is  manifest  from  the  published 
transactions  which  took  place,  between  the  party  which 
made  and  that  which  accepted  the  transfer.  The  fol- 
lowing query  was  proposed  to  Mr,  Lewis :  "  Was  the 
want  of  funds  the  chief  inducement?"  In  reply,  he 
says :  "  So  far  as  I  know  this  was  the  only  inducement. 
In  May,  1825,  having  served  the  Board  faithfully  and 
gratuitously  for  five  years,  as  their  principal  Secretary, 
and  finding  that  my  health  began  to  yield  under  my 
heavy  labors,  and  having  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
Society,  for  the  first  time,  free  from  debt ;  I  resigned 
my  office,  in  favor  of  Mr.  Crane,  and  removed  my  family 
to  the  country  for  the  summer.  On  my  return  to  the 
city  in  September,  I  found,  to  my  astonishment,  that 
the  drafts  upon  the  Board,  and  other  expenses,  had,  in 
four  months,  exceeded  the  receipts,  by  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand dollars ;  that  the  Board,  as  well  as  the  Treasurer, 
had  become  alarmed  ;  that  they  had  determined  to  offer 
the  whole  concern  to  the  Eastern  Board,  on  condition 
that  it  would  assume  our  debt ;  and  that  Commissioners 
had  gone  to  lay  the  proposition  before  the  Board,  then 
in  session."  Mr.  Lewis  afterwards  says:  "I  do  not 
assert  that  the  want  of  funds  was  the  only  inducement 
[to  the  transfer],  but  that  it  was  the  only  one  mentioned 
to  me."  He  then  tells  the  querist  that  for  further  infor- 
mation, if  desired,  recourse  umst  be  had  to  two  gentle- 
men, "  who,"  he  says,  "  I  understood  were  the  leading 
actors  in  the  project  of  the  transfer."  These  gentlemen 
have  not  been  consulted  ;  for  if  the  Society  was  out  of 
debt  entirely,  but  four  months  before  the  transfer ;  and 
if  the  amount  of  debt,  at  the  time  it  took  place,  did  not 


56  PRESBYTERIATT  MISSIONS. 

exceed  ten  thousand  dollars ;  and  if,  as  we  know  was 
the  fact,  three  respectable  religions  denominations  were 
morally  bound  and  even  solenmly  pledged,  to  see  this 
debt  discharged,  it  cannot  be  credited  that  there  were  not 
other,  and  more  powerful,  motives  prompting  to  the 
transfer,  than  the  fact  that  the  United  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  owed  ten  thousand  dollars.  The  avowed  and 
undoubtedly  the  real  reasons,  which  operated  in  this 
concern,  are  distinctly  set  forth  in  the  published  pro- 
ceedings of  the  American  Board,  at  their  annual  meet- 
ing in  September,  1825,  and  inserted  in  the  October 
number  of  the  Missionary  Herald  of  the  same  year. 
They  are  as  follows : 

"  In  the  first  two  days,  the  subject  of  amalgamating 
the  [United]  Foreign  Missionary  Society  with  the 
Board  came  several  times  under  consideration.  A  com- 
mittee, appointed  to  confer  with  the  Commissioners 
from  that  Society,  reported,  that  so  far  as  they  had  been 
able  to  examine  the  subject,  the  proposed  union  is  both 
practicable  and  desirable.  The  Commissioners  then 
made  statements  to  the  Board,  similar  to  those  which 
they  had  previously  made  to  the  Committee.  The  rea- 
sons which  they  adduced  in  favor  of  a  union  with  the 
Board  were  briefly  these : 

"  That  the  most  friendly  relations  and  feelings  now 
exist  between  the  General  Assembly  and  the  Synods, 
and  the  Orthodox  Association  of  T^ew  England : 

"  That  the  spirit  of  controversy  having  subsided,  the 
intelligent  and  candid  of  the  Christian  public  are  all 
satisfied,  that  the  same  Gospel  which  is  preached  in  the 
Middle  and  Southern  and  Western  States,  is  preached 
also  in  the  Eastern  States : 

"  That  the  missionaries  of  both  Societies  preach  pre- 
cisely the  same  Gospel  to  the  heathen ;  and  that  the 


FOKEIGN  OR  HEATHEN"  MISSIONS.  67 

same  regulations  are  adopted  by  both,  in  the  manage- 
ment of  missions : 

"  That  both  derive  much  of  their  funds  from  the  same 
churches  and  individuals;  that  the  great  body  of  Chris- 
tians do  not  perceive  or  make  any  distinction  between 
the  two  institutions ;  and  consequently  do  not  perceive 
any  necessity  for  two,  and  regret  the  existence  of  two ;  and 
that  many  churches  and  individuals,  unwilling  to  evince 
a  preference  for  either,  are  thus  prevented  from  acting 
promptly,  and  contributing  liberally  to  either : 

"  That  both  Societies  are  evidently  embarrassed,  and 
cramped,  through  the  fear  of  collision  and  difficulty ; 
and  that  the  agents  of  both  are  discouraged,  and  limited 
in  their  operations,  by  the  same  apprehension  : 

"  That  the  objects,  principles,  and  operations  of  both 
are  so  entirely  similar,  that  there  can  be  no  good  reason 
assigned  for  maintaining  two  : 

"  That  the  claims  upon  the  churches  are  becoming  so 
numerous,  and  frequent,  and  the  necessities  of  the  desti- 
tute so  urgent,  that  all  institutions  are  sacredly  bound  to 
observe  the  most  rigid  economy ;  and  that  by  the  union, 
much  that  is  now  expended  for  the  support  of  offices, 
officers,  agents,  etc.,  will  be  saved  for  the  general  objects 
of  the  Societies : 

"  And  lastly,  that  the  prevailing  feeling  in  the  churches 
demands  a  union  between  the  two  Societies,  and  will 
eventually  make  it  unavoidably  necessary  : 

"  After  these  statements,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  report  the  terms  on  which  they  supposed  the  union 
might  be  formed  with  the  United  Foreign  Missionary 
Society.  Their  report,  after  much  and  deliberate  dis- 
cussion, was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Board,  and 
received  the  concurrence  of  the  Commissioners  from 
Kew  York." 


58  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIOT^-S. 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  the  reasons  assigned  above 
for  the  contemplated  amalgamation,  the  embarrassment 
arising  from  the  want  of  funds  is  stated  as  common  to 
both  the  conferring  parties,  and  that  not  so  much  as  an 
intimation  is  given  that  one  party  was  more  in  debt 
than  the  other,  or  had  experienced  more  difficulty  in 
meeting  its  engagements.     The  general  reason  assigned 
for  uniting  the  institutions  is  contained  in  the  specifica- 
tion immediately  preceding  the  last  two.     The  present 
writer,  however,  did  not  then,  nor  at  any  time  since, 
believe  it  to  be  a  well-founded  opinion  that  "  The  objects, 
principles,  and  operations  of  both  [the  conferring  par- 
ties] are  so  entirely  similar  that  there  can  be  no  good 
reason  assigned  for  maintaining  two."     He  distinctly 
made  known  this  conviction  to  Mr.  Evarts,  then  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  American  Board,  in  an 
interview  had  with  him  on  the  subject,  and  plainly  inti- 
mated to  him  that  many  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  would  be  found  to  be  of  the  same  mind  with 
the  speaker,  and  that  they  never  would  be  fully  satisfied 
till  they  saw  a  Foreign  Missionary  Society  established  in 
the  Church  of  their  preference,  founded  on  its  distinctive 
principles,  and  exclusively  directed  by  its  own  mem- 
bers.    Still  it  is  not  questioned  that  those  who  assigned 
the  reasons  recited  above,  did  honestly  believe  in  their 
truth  and  validity  ;  and  that  some  of  the  concerned  are, 
to  the  present  time,  fully  of  the  opinion  that  the  exist- 
ence  and   character  of  the  American   Board   renders 
unnecessary  and  inexpedient  a  separate  organization  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

It  ought  to  be  particularly  noticed,  that  it  is  here 
stated  that  these  reasons  for  an  amalgamation  of  the  two 
institutions,  were  those  which  were  adduced  by  the 
Commissioners  themselves ;  and  that  they  were  stated, 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEIi  MISSIONS.  59 

first   to   a   Committee   of   the   Board,   and   afterwards 
repeated  to  the  Board  itself. 

The  report  of  the  committee,  mentioned  in  the  closing 
paragraph  of  the  foregoing  extended  quotation,  and  which 
was  adopted  by  the  American  Board,  contained  five  pre- 
liminary terms  as  conditions  of  the  contemplated  union, 
and  seven  permanent  terms  of  Union.  Neither  of  these 
series  of  terms  can  be  given  in  extenso  in  this  limited 
sketch ;  nor,  if  it  were  practicable,  would  there  be  any 
use  in  the  insertion  of  the  whole.  Of  the  preliminary 
terms  the  second  and  fourth  stand  thus : 

"2.  During  the  interval  which  must  elapse  between 
the  present  time  and  May  next,  the  Directors  of  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  will  make  all  practi- 
cable exertions  to  replenish  its  treasury,  so  that  should 
the  proposed  union  take  place,  the  engagements  to  be 
assumed  by  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions  may  be  as  few  and  as  small  as 
possible. 

"  4.  The  Directors  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  will  direct  the  missionaries  of  the  several  sta- 
tions not  to  enter  on  any  new  measures  involving 
ex]3ense,  and  generally  to  practice  the  strictest  economy, 
till  the  result  of  this  proposed  measure  shall  be  known." 

These  articles  are  quoted  because  it  may  be  thought 
that  they  militate  with  what  has  been  said  relative  to 
the  debt  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 
But  do  they,  in  reality,  contain  anything  more  than  a 
precautionary  measure,  which  might  have  been  entirely 
proper  if  no  debt  whatever  of  the  Society  had  existed  ? 
Still,  as  the  fact  was  that  a  debt  was  known  to  exist,  it 
is  readily  admitted  that  these  articles  were  calculated 
to  prevent  its  increase,  and  to  provide  for  its  diminution. 
To  get  rid  of  their  debt  has  not  been  denied  to  have 


60  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

been  one  reason  why  the  Directors  of  the  United  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  were  desirous  to  transfer  it  to 
the  American  Board.  That  it  was  not  the  only,  nor  the 
chief  reason,  that  their  offer  was  made  and  accepted, 
has,  it  is  beHeved,  been  fully  shown. 

Of  the  permanent  terms  of  union,  agreed  upon  by 
the  American  Board  and  the  "  Commissioners  from  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas 
A.  McAuley,  the  Eev.  Dr.  William  McMurray,  and  the 
Rev.  James  C.  Crane,"  the  sixth  article  was  as  follows : 

"  6.  The  highest  judicatories  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  will  rec- 
ommend the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions  as  a  national  institution,  and  entitled 
to  the  warm  support  and  efficient  patronage  of  the 
churches  under  their  respective  jurisdictions." 

This  article  is  inserted,  that  it  may  be  compared  with 
what  was  done  in  relation  to  it,  by  the  two  judicatories 
to  which  it  refers.  The  whole  action  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  on  this  important 
subject,  after  referring  it  to  a  Committee,  is  embraced 
in  the  following  short  extract  from  their  records :  "  The 
report  of  the  Committee  on  a  communication  from  a 
Committee  of  the  managers  of  the  United  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society,  was  taken  up,  and  after  mature  deliber- 
ation it  was 

^^  Resolved,  That  the  General  Assembly  do  consent 
to  the  amalgamation  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions,  and  the  United  Foreign 
Missionary  Society. 

"  Resolved  further,  That  this  General  Assembly  rec- 
ommend the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions  to  the  favorable  notice  and  Christian 
Bupport  of  the  Church  and  people  under  their  care." 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  61 

The  action  of  the  General  Sjnod  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  on  the  same  subject,  is  recorded  on  their 
minutes  as  follows: 

"Whereas,  A  Committee  from  the  Board  of  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  did  enter  into  pre- 
liminary arrangements  for  amalgamating  the  United 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  with  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions ;  and,  whereas, 
it  is  expressly  declared  that  no  pledge  of  support  or 
recommendation  to  the  patronage  of  our  churches  is 
understood  to  be  implied  in  the  consent  of  this  Synod ; 
therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Synod  consent  to  transfer  the 
interest  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  to 
the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions." 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  sixth  article  of  the  perma- 
nent terms  of  union  agreed  upon  by  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  and  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
was  not  sanctioned  or  agreed  to  by  either  of  the  highest 
judicatories  of  the  churches  to  which  it  was  submitted. 
Neither  of  these  judicatories  would  consent  to  recom- 
mend, or  in  any  manner  recognize  the  American  Board 
as  "a  national  institution";  nor  would  either  of  them 
declare  that  this  Board  was  "entitled  to  the  warm 
support  and  efficient  patronage  of  the  churches  under 
their  respective  jurisdictions."  The  k?ynod  of  the  Dutch 
Church  would  not  so  much  as  recommend  the  Board  in 
any  manner  whatever,  and  state  on  their  minutes  that  it 
is  expressly  declared  that  no  pledge  of  support  or  rec- 
ommendation to  the  patronage  of  our  churches  is  under- 
stood to  be  implied  in  the  consent  of  this  Synod  to  the 
proposed  amalgamation.     The  General  Assembly  of  the 


b2  PEESBYTEEIAN   MISSIONS. 

Presbyterian  Churcli  did  go  so  far  as  to  recommend  the 
Board,  but  only  in  tbe  same  manner  in  which  they  have 
recommended  several  other  benevolent  institutions  and 
enterprises.  The  discussion  which  took  place  in  the 
General  Assembly,  when  the  subject  of  amalgamation 
was  under  consideration,  has  been  reported  and  pub- 
lished by  one  who  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  at  the 
time,  and  who  took  part  in  the  debate  which  ensued ; 
and  as  this  report  assigns  some  i-easons  for  the  course 
pursued,  and  shows  the  state  of  feeling  among  the 
members  of  the  Assembly  on  the  occasion ;  and  inas- 
much as  there  have  been  misapprehensions  and  erro- 
neous statements  in  regard  to  this  important  transaction, 
it  is  believed  to  be  proper  to  insert  the  brief  report 
referred  to ;  it  is  as  follows : 

"  The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Assembly  on  the 
application  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
of  which  Dr.  Eichards  was  the  chairman,  brought  in 
this  resolution  for  adoption  : 

"  Resolved^  That  the  General  Assembly  do  approve 
of  the  amalgamation  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions  and  the  United  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  on  the  terms  agreed  upon." 

Dr.  Janeway  moved  to  strike  out  the  term  which  was 
intended  to  bind  the  Assembly  to  recommend  the 
American  Board  as  a  ISTational  Society.  He  assigned 
as  reasons:  1.  That  such  a  recommendation  would  be 
offensive  to  other  denominations.  2.  That  if  the  three 
denominations  embraced  by  the  United  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  were,  sincerely  and  universally,  to  act 
with  the  American  Board,  they  would  not  constitute  a 
majority  of  the  religious  public  in  this  country ;  and 
consequently,  if  the  Assembly  were  to  denominate  them 
a  E'ational  Society,  they  would  not  speak  according  to 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  63 

fact,  and  would  dishonor  themselves  bj  utterino-  wliat 
was  not  true.  Dr.  Alexander  suggested  the  striking 
out  of  all  the  terras;  Dr.  Janewaj  was  deliberating 
whether  it  were  expedient  to  make  this  motion, 
and  still  occupying  the  floor,  when  Mr.  Z.  Lewis,  one 
of  the  managers  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  and  one  of  the  Committee  to  obtain  the  Assem-  \ 
bly's  sanction  to  the  plan  of  amalgamation,  hastily  rose  by 
his  side  and  made  the  motion.  Dr.  Janeway  then  said, 
"  Moderator,  I  accept  that  as  my  motion,"  and  took  his 
seat.  The  motion  was  carried,  and  thus  by  a  formal 
vote  all  the  terms  were  stricken  out  of  the  resolution. 
Dr.  l^eil  endeavored  to  procure  a  reconsideration  of  the 
vote,  but  failed.  Dr.  Ely  then  moved  to  strike  out  the 
words  "  approve  of,"  and  to  insert  the  words  "  consent 
to."  This  motion  was  carried,  and  then  the  resolution 
read  as  it  now  stands  in  the  minutes  of  the  Assembly  :  \ 

''Resolved,  That  the  General  Assembly  do  consent  J 

to  the  amalgamation  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners  for  Foreign  Missions  and  the  United  Foreign 
Missionary  Society." 

When  an  important  article  in  a  contemplated  treaty, 
or  agreement  of  any  kind,  is  rejected  by  one  of  the 
negotiating  parties,  the  other  party  is,  of  course,  released 
from  all  obligation  to  abide  by  any  other  of  the  pro- 
posed stipulations.  When,  therefore,  the  two  ecclesi- 
astical judicatories,  to  which  the  permanent  terms  of 
union  had  been  submitted,  pointedly  rejected  the  sixth 
article,  and  with  it,  necessarily,  everything  of  which  it 
was  the  basis  in  the  other  articles,  the  American  Board 
was  freed  from  every  moral  bond  to  adhere  to  any  part 
of  the  projected  agreement.  In  a  word,  it  became  per- 
fectly optional  with  that  Board  to  take  or  to  refuse  the 
proffered  missions.     The  Board  chose  to  receive  them, 


64  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

and  it  is  not  seen  how  it  could  have  done  otherwise,  in 
consistency  with  what  it  had  from  its  origin  openly  pro- 
claimed. It  was  its  avowed  aim,  indicated  by  its  very 
name,  to  become  a  National  Institution.  But  it  could 
not  become  so  in  fact  without,  at  least,  possessing  the 
superintendence  of  the  Foreign  Missions  in  the  Presby- 
terian and  Dutch  Churches.  Here,  then,  were  nearly 
all  the  heathen  Missions  that  had  been  originated  by 
these  churches,  now  at  the  offer  of  the  Board,  and  which, 
if  this  Board  did  not  assume  them,  would  certainly  be 
prosecuted  by  some  other  agency  ;  for  they  were  of  too 
promising  a  character  to  admit  a  thought  of  their  being 
abandoned.  The  property,  moreover,  which  they  had 
accumulated  was  far  more  than  an  equivalent  for  the 
debts  they  had  contracted.  These  debts,  amounting  as 
stated  to  ten  thousand  dollars,  an  authentic  document 
now  before  the  writer  shows,  did  not  exceed  the  value 
of  the  Maumee  Mission  alone  : 

"The  Board  of  Trust  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh 
were  led,  from  various  considerations,  to  make  addi- 
tional purchases  of  land,  until,  at  the  time  of  the  trans- 
fer (in  the  autumn  of  1825),  they  possessed  upwards  of 
six  hundred  acres,  valued  at  ten  thousand  dollars.  This 
land,  which  was  recently,  if  it  is  not  still,  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  American  Board,  lies  immediately  adjoin- 
ing the  Wabash  and  Lake  Erie  Canal,  and  as  the  Indian 
claims  have  been  now  entirely  extinguished,  it  must 
prove  extremely  valuable  to  the  Board." — Manuscript 
statement  from  Rev.  E.  P.  Swift,  of  the  date  of  Feb- 
ruary 8, 1838. 

"  I  remember  most  distinctly  to  have  heard  Mr.  Evarts 
say,  that  his  Board  had  received  from  the  United  For- 
eign Missionary  Society,  such  an  amount  of  property  as 
ought  to  prevent  any  mention  ever  being  made  of  the 


FOREIGN   OR  HEATHEN   MISSIONS.  65 

debts  transferred,  as  being  a  burden." — Quotation  from 
a  letter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Miller^  dated  January  8, 
1838. 

The  American  Board,  therefore  acted  wisely,  and  in 
perfect  accordance  with  its  own  long  cherished  purposes 
and  hopes,  in  assuming  these  missions ;  although  the 
terms  which  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  had  proposed  and  agreed  to  do,  were 
not  sanctioned,  but  refused,  by  the  judicatories  which 
had  a  perfect  and  acknowledged  right  to  reject  them. 

It  is  believed  that  the  only  heathen  mission  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  not  transferred  to  the 
American  Board,  along  with  those  already  mentioned, 
was  one  which  was  under  the  supervision  of  the  Synod 
of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  namely :  Mission  among 
the  Chickasaw  Indians. 

MISSION  This  Synod,  it  appears,  some  time  pre- 

AMONG  THE  viously  to  the  transfer,  had  established  a 
CHICKASAW  mission  among  the  Chickasaws ;  whose 
INDIANS,  country  was  included  within  the  chartered 
limits  of  the  States  of  Mississippi  and  Alabama.  The 
Rev.  T.  C.  Steward  was  employed  for  some  time  as  a 
stated  missionary  among  these  Indians.  A  promis- 
ing school  was  opened,  and  considerable  anxiety  was 
awakened  among  the  pagans  for  the  instruction  of  their 
children.  But  the  want  of  authentic  information  pre- 
vents the  insertion  in  this  sketch  of  further  details  in 
regard  to  this  mission ;  except  that  it  appears  to  have 
been  resigned  to  the  American  Board  in  the  year  1828. 

[The  foregoing  accounts  may  be  supplemented  in  some 
particulars,  from  the  Minutes,  in  manuscript,  of  the 
Western  Missionary  Society's  Board  of  Trust :  1.  This 
Board  of  Trust,  January  2,  1821,  adopted  a  Minute 
which  opened  the  way  for  co-operation  with  the  United 


66  PRESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  proposed  a  joint  effort 
of  the  two  Societies  to  form  a  new  mission  among  the 
Indians, — in  a  manner  suggested.  No  further  reference 
to  this  matter  is  found  m  the  Board  of  Trust's  Minutes, 
nor  any  in  the  publications  of  the  United  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

2.  The  next  references  to  this  subject  are  in  the  same 
MS.  Yolume  of  Minutes,  in  1825,  April  12,  June  12, 
June  27,  and  October  25,  and  in  the  Minutes  of  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  October  27, 1825.  These  Minutes 
show  that  a  complete  transfer  of  the  work  and  property 
of  the  Board  of  Trust,  W.  M  S.,  was  made  to  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  A  reference  to 
compensation  for  the  property  transferred  is  made  in  the 
Minutes  of  the  Board  of  Trust  of  June  27,  1825,  to 
the  payment  of  $1,000  by  the  United  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  to  the  Board  of  Trust,  W.  M.  S.,  without 
particulars,  but  probably  to  provide  for  certain  contin- 
gent debts.  The  property  at  the  Maumee  station  thus 
transferred  was  of  considerable  value,  the  land  alone 
being  estimated  at  $10,000. 

3.  The  local  and  personal  interest  of  this  singular 
transfer  has  passed  away,  but  it  suggests  two  general 
remarks : 

1.  The  Union  feature  of  the  Society  to  which  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh's  Missions  were  transferred.  It 
was  in  theory  a  Presbyterian  Church  Society ;  otherwise 
no  transfer  would  have  been  made ;  but  it  was  a  united 
Society,  "  composed  of  the  Presbyterian,  the  Eeformed 
Dutch,  and  the  Associate  Eeformed  Churches,  and  all 
others  who  may  choose  to  join  them."  If  well-ordered 
in  method  as  in  object,  and  conducted  with  efficiency, 
this  Society  might  be  expected  to  become  a  great  and 
blessed  Church  movement  for  the  conversion  of  the 


FOREIGN  OR  HEATHEN  MISSIONS.  67 

world.  Suet  no  doubt  was  the  purpose  of  its  founders. 
And  its  influenceiat  Lome  would  have  been  great  and 
practical  in  the  lines  of  Christian  fellowship  between 
the  three  kindred  Churches,— fellowship  not  only  bene- 
ficial, but  delightful.  Alas,  for  its  short  life!  And 
wherefore  ? 

2.  In  reply— the  painful  historical  events  to  which 
attention  has  been  called  on  preceding  pages,  go  far  to 
account  for  its  short  course.  Besides  these  events,  the 
Constitution  of  the  Society  contained  two  things  that 
rendered  its  success  uncertain.  One  was  apparent  in  its 
Fifth  Article,  see  page  39,  supra,  which  specified  a 
pecuniary  qualification  for  membership,  and  a  larger 
sum  of  money  for  a  seat  and  right  to  vote  in  its  Board 
of  Managers.  We  find  nothing  of  this  kind  in  the 
Missions  of  the  Apostolic  Church,  nor  in  the  Scriptural 
principles  on  which  they  were  conducted. 

The  other  discouraging  feature  is  the  lack  of  a  closer 
connection  between  the  Society  and  the  three  Churches. 
The  Fourth  Article  specifies  that  the  annual  report  of 
the  Board  of  the  Society  is  to  be  "presented  to  the 
highest  judicatory  of  the  three  denominations,  for  their 
information."  This  article,  and  especially  its  last  three 
words,  seem  to  be  the  only  proviso  for  the  revieio  and 
control  of  the  Society  by  the  three  Churches.  The 
Society  itself  was  constituted  not  by  the  judicatories, 
but  as  noted  above  by  pecuniary  payments  for  member- 
ship as  well  as  oflScers.  Even  so  great  and  serious  a 
matter  as  the  transfer  of  the  missions  to  another  Board 
seems  to  have  been  virtually  done  by  the  Society, 
rather  than  by  the  Churches.  Many  able  and  good  men 
were  members  of  these  three  denominations  then,  as 
there  are  now  ;  but  the  lessons  of  experience  were  then 
inadequately  understood.  The  connection  of  our  divinely 


68  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

appointed  Church  government  with  the  work  of 
Christian  missions  needs  to  be  carefully  studied.  Its 
principles  are  generally  applicable  to  practical  cases ;  its 
rules  of  procedure  may  vary  with  Providential  circum- 
stances. We  may  believe,  however,  that  the  unhappy 
ending  of  the  Society's  life,  after  its  work  so  full  of 
promise,  and  supported  by  the  sympathy,  gifts,  and 
prayers  of  so  many  of  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  did 
nevertheless  become  an  important  means  of  a  greater 
work  of  foreign  missions  at  an  early  day.] 


SYITODICAL  MISSIONS. 

[The  Note  here  inserted  refers  particularly  to  missions, 
domestic  and  foreign,  which  were  conducted  by  several 
Synods  of  the  Church,  in  their  separate  organization. 
These  were  conducted  with  the  approval  of  the  General 
Assembly — by  its  "  direction  and  allowance,"  indeed  at 
its  request  in  some  cases.  Lessons  of  interest  may  be 
drawn  from  their  proceedings  in  1789-1811, 1791-1813, 
and  1802-1826,  respectively,  as  bearing  on  the  general 
missionary  work  of  the  present  day — 1892 — its  principles 
being  the  same. 

Only  three  of  the  Synods  may  here  be  referred  to, 
but  the  sphere  of  action  in  the  case  of  the  second  was 
not  exclusively  missionary. 

THE  The  Synod  of  Virginia  held  its  first  meet- 

SYNOD  OF  ing  in  1788.  Its  boundaries  included  Yir- 
viEQiNiA.  ginia,  "Western  Pennsylvania,  Ohio — then  ex- 
tending indefinitely  westward,  and  Kentucky.  Its 
evangelistic  work  reached  many  new  settlements  of 
white  people  on  the  frontiers,  many  colored  people, 
and  several  remnants  of  Indian  tribes.  In  1789  this 
Synod  felt  moved  to  undertake  missionary  work,  addi- 
tional to  the  missions  of  the  General  Assembly,  but 
no  doubt  vdth  its  warm  approval,  and  it  organized 
The  Commission  of  Synod  to  carry  into  effect  the 
Synod's  Plan  of  Missions  and  its  Bides.  The  Com- 
mission consisted  of  four  ministers  and  as  many  elders, 
one  of  them  acting  as  Treasurer.  Collections  were  taken 
in  the  churches  for  its  work,  and  encouragement  at- 
tended its  labors.  It  missionaries  were  required  to  be 
unordained  and  unmarried  men,  and  were  usually  pro- 

(69) 


70  PRESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

bationers  for  the  ministry,  who  liad  been  recommended 
for  appointment  bj  their  Presbyteries.  There  were  then 
no  Theological  Seminaries,  and  no  students  with  vaca- 
tions available  for  short  periods  of  service.  These  '  Com- 
mission '  missionaries  were  usually  appointed  for  a  year, 
on  suitable  salaiies,  and  were  left  under  the  supervision 
of  their  Presbyteries  respectively.  The  restrictive  rule 
as  to  marriage  was  not  waived  apparently,  but  enforced 
by  the  discontinuance  of  appointment,  in  the  only  in- 
stance specified  in  the  Miimtes  now  accessible,  "  as  he 
did  not  answer  the  purposes  of  the  Commission  ";  but 
with  no  unkind  feeling.  The  rule  was  no  doubt  re- 
garded as  suited  to  a  new  country  and  its  itinerant  work. 
The  missions  of  the  Commission  were  commended  by 
the  General  Assembly,  which  referred  specially  to  its 
having  "paid  attention  to  Indian  tribes  on  the  fron- 
tiers." But  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  missionaries  for 
the  increasing  population,  white,  colored  in  some  parts 
of  its  bounds,  and  Indians,  and  difficult  also  to  obtain 
pecuniary  means  for  their  support.  After  some  years 
the  Commission  was  divided  into  two  sections,  "  under 
the  names  of  the  Commission  East  of  the  Alleghany 
and  the  Commission  West,  acting  with  great  efficiency." 
Missionaries  were  sent  also  to  Kentucky,  where  a  noble 
work  was  begun,  with  not  a  little  self-denial.  But  in 
1 807  under  the  pressure  of  growing  labors  and  inade- 
quate means,  the  Synod  expressed  to  the  General  As- 
sembly its  purpose  to  resign  the  missionary  work.  The 
Assembly  requested  the  Synod  to  continue  in  the  charge 
of  it  for  the  present.  "  After  a  few  years,  the  Synodical 
Commission  ceased,  and  the  Assembly  conducted  its 
work  by  a  Board  appointed  for  the  purpose."  These 
notices  are  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the  General 
Assembly  and  from  Dr.  W.  H.  Foote's  Sketches  of  Yir- 


STNODICAL  MISSIONS.  71 

ginia,  in  1850.     Dr.  Foote  also  says  that  "the  Minutes 
of  the  Commission  for  some  years  are  supposed  to  be 
irrecoverably  lost."     Some  of  the  most  useful  and  emi- 
nent men  in  onr  ministry,  the  Rev.  Archibald  Alex- 
ander, D.D.,  and  others,  began  their  public  labors  for 
Christ  under  the  care  of  this  Commission,  or  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Synod  on  Missions. 
THE  sraoD       The  Synod  of  the  Carolinas,  organized  in 
OF  THE      1788,  appointed  a  Standing  Commission  in 
CAROLINAS.   1791.      It  was    a    general    Commission,    in 
charge  of  all  matters  of  Synodical  business  when  the 
Synod  was  not  in  session,  and  its  decision  was  final. 
It  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  religious  instruction  of 
the  Catawba  Indians  for  two  years;    but  the  Indians 
"  became  weary  of  it,"  and  further  work  for  them  ap- 
pears  to  have   been   relinquished.      The   Commission 
aided  in  the  support  of  domestic  missionaries  in  the 
three  States  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia, 
and  also  in  territories  farther  south  and  southwest — as 
far  distant  as  Natchez  in  the  territory  of  Mississippi. 
In  this  missionary  work  the  Synod  comphed  with  the 
directions  of  the  General  Assembly  ;  but  eventually  by 
overture  the  work  was  placed  again  in  the  charge  of  the 
Assembly.     In  1813  the  Synod  was  divided,  three  Pres- 
byteries constituting  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina,  and 
as  many  forming  the  Synod  of    South  Carolina  and 
Georgia.     Missionary  labors  were   still   encouraged  in 
both  these  Synods,  but  so  far  as  aj^pears  not  by  organ- 
ized Commissions  for  that  purpose.     But  the  Synod  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia  supported  a  mission  among 
the  Chickasaw  Indians — referred  to  on  page  65,  supra. 

At  a  far  later  period  the  Synods  of  Virginia  and  of 
North  Carolina  formed  the  Central  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions;  and  the  Synods  of  South  Carolina  and  Geor- 


72  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

gia,  and  of  Tennessee,  formed  the  Southern  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions;  both  these  Boards  being  in  friendly 
co-operation  with  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions. No  particular  account  need  be  given  here  of  their 
work  in  connection  with  the  American  Board.  In 
1838,  these  Boards— the  Central  and  the  Southern — 
transferred  their  relations  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  General  Assembly.  Cordial  Christian 
regard  and  sympathy,  as  well  as  a  recognition  of  the 
responsibility  of  the  Church,  no  doubt  marked  all  these 
proceedings. 

THE  The  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  was  constituted 

SYNOD  OF  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1802.  Its  three 
PITTSBURGH.  Presbytcrics, — Redstone,  Ohio,  and  Erie, — 
had  been  connected  with  the  Synod  of  Virginia.  Its  terri- 
tory was  chiefly  "Western  Pennsylvania,  but  included 
parts  of  "Western  Virginia  and  of  Eastern  Ohio,  as  it  does 
to  this  day.  Its  vigorous  people,  mostly  of  Scotch-Irish 
stock,  had  come  from  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, and  Central  Virginia.  This  Synod  signalized  its 
advent  by  organizing  itself  at  its  first  meeting  in 
1802  as  The  Western  Missionary  Society.  The  Society 
appointed  a  Board  of  Trust,  which  was  afterwards 
chartered  by  the  State,  and  which  consisted  of  six 
ministers  and  three  elders.  This  Board  elected  annu- 
ally from  its  members  a  Chairman,  a  Secretary,  and 
a  Treasurer.*  The  Minutes  of  the  Society  and  of  its 
Board  were  kept  in  the  same  volume,  separate  from 
the  Minutes  of  the  Synod,  and  were  laid  before  the 
Synod  annually  for  its  review  and  control.  The 
members  and  officers  of  the  Board  were  usually  re- 
elected. Among  them  were  some  of  the  most  excellent 
and  leading  men  of  their  day  in  the  "Western  Church. 
*  All  unsalaried,  as  in  the  Commission  of  Virginia. 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  73 

The  Synod  conducted  its  missionary  work  with  vigor 
and  success,  as  related  by  Dr.  Green,  until  its  Indian  or 
Foreign  Missions  were  unhappily  transferred  to  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  1825.  Its  much 
larger  work  in  the  home  field  passed  into  the  charge  of 
the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  General  Assembly,  in 
the  next  year,  1826. 

THE  The  Indian  Missions  of  these  Synods  were 

INDIAN  regarded  as  Foreign.  Such  was  the  usus 
MISSIONS,  loquendi  Of  course  they  were  also  consid- 
ered as  missions  to  the  Heathen.  The  Indians  were 
foreigners  in  their  language,  way  of  life,  religious 
usages,  treatment  by  the  Government  in  waging  wars 
and  forming  treaties  with  them.  They  are  now  called  the 
wards  of  the  Government,  and  a  liberal  and  kind  policy 
is  adopted  concerning  them.  The  pohcy  of  the  General 
Government  towards  them  was  always  humane,  what- 
ever may  have  been  their  treatment  by  some  of  the 
border  States.  But  even  to  this  day  many  of  the  tribes 
require  too  often  the  control  of  the  army.  It  is  only 
the  Gospel  that  can  make  them  citizens.  They  may 
enjoy  for  their  children  the  benefits  of  common  schools, 
as  do  other  children  ;  but  for  adults  the  missionary 
who  knows  their  language  thoroughly,  and  who  remains 
in  their  service  for  life.  Providence  permitting,  is  as 
much  needed  as  his  brethren  are  by  Hindus  or  Koreans. 
David  Brainerd,  Cyrus  Kingsbury,  Dr.  Williamson,  and 
others  still  living  were  foreign  missionaries,  and  were  so 
considered,  not  less  than  Henry  Martyn,  of  India,  or 
Dr.  Morrison,  of  China. 

These  views,  in  general,  were  held  in  these  Synods, 
and  all  the  more  strongly  because  of  the  great  wrongs 
perpetrated  on  the  Indian  tribes  by  lawless  white  people. 
But  in  the  period  here  referred  to,  and  especially  in  the 


74  PEESBYTERIAN   MISSIOTTS. 

bounds  of  these  Sjnods,  only  feeble  and  fragmentary 
bands  of  Indians  were  usually  within  reach.     For  them 
earnest  efforts  were  made  to  promote  the  knowledge  of 
the  Gospel  and  its  civilization,  as  shown  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.    The  Wyandots,  and  the  Ottawas,  of  K"orth- 
eastern  Ohio,  the  Cornplanter  villages  of  Senecas,  on  the 
borders  of  Pennsylvania  and  ^N'ew  York,  others  by  mis- 
sionaries of  the  Virginia  and  Southern  Synods,  and  par- 
ticularly by  the  Rev.   Gideon   Blackburn,  under   the 
direction  of  the  General  Assembly,  were  the  subjects  of 
deep  sympathy;  and  self-sacrificing  labors  were  made  for 
their  benefit.     By  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  teachers 
were  employed,  both  men  and  women,  and  laborers  to 
train  the  Indians  in  farming  and  other  kinds  of  work. 
Visits  were  made  to  the  Indian  settlements  by  ministers 
of  churches  within  reach  of  them,  occupying  several 
days  of  travelling  on  horseback,  at  times  through  the 
almost  unbroken  wilderness.     Many  such  visits  by  lead- 
ing pastors  were  made  for  considerable  periods  by  such 
men  as  Messrs.  Dodd,  McCurdy,  Hughes,    Tait,  and 
shorter  visits  at  the  request  of  the  Synod's  Board  of 
Trust    by    Messrs.    Anderson,    Marquis,    McPherrin, 
Herron,   Swift,   Patterson,  Stevenson,  Satterfield,  and 
others.  Their  own  churches  were  supplied  by  neighboring 
pastors,  the  ministers  generally  being  in  sympathy  with 
their  brethren,  and  their  congregations  also.     Mr.  Tait's 
absence  for  several  months,  as  provisional  superintendent 
of  the  Maumee  Mission,  was  at  the  request  of  the  Synod, 
which  directed  the  Presbytery  to  take  the  charge  of  suj)- 
plying  his  pulpit.     Early  in  this  century  Mr.  Dodd  spent 
several  years  in  this  service  under  the  direction  of  the 
Board  of  Trust,  but  following  his  own  convictions  of  duty. 
Mr.  Badger,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men,  spent 
some  years  subsequent  to  1806 ;  Mr.  McCurdy  was  emi- 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  75 

nent  in  his  Indian  labors  (see  his  Memoirs  by  Dr.  Elliott). 
Dr.  McCurdy's  Biography  refers  to  his  travelling 
4,500  miles  as  member  of  the  Board  of  Trust  and 
for  twelve  years  its  Treasurer,  and  on  repeated  visits  to 
the  Indian  missions,  spending  a  year  on  one  of  these 
visits,  "  travelling  not  in  steamboats,  railroad  cars,  or 
stage  coaches,  protected  from  the  weather,  but  on  horse- 
back, in  all  seasons  of  the  year,  over  poor  roads,  swamps, 
and  rivers,  often  encountering  much  difficulty  and  no 
common  fatigue  and  exposure."  Dr.  McCurdy  continued 
in  the  charge  of  his  first  and  only  church,  with  its  full 
sympathy,  for  over  thirty  years,  until  his  health  required 
him  to  withdraw  from  active  labors.  IS'otwithstandinff  his 
abundant  work  for  the  Board  of  Trust  and  for  the  In- 
dians, and  many  evangelistic  visits  to  new  settlements, 
his  own  "  country  "  congregation  steadily  increased  in 
numbers,  strength,  and  spiritual  life  and  vigor.  jN"ot 
a  few  were  the  pastors  of  churches  in  this  Synod,  who 
were  men  of  like  character  and  usefulness. 

THE  The  Domestic  Missions  of  these  Synods, 

DOMESTIC  already  referred  to  by  Dr.  Green,  and  in  the 
mssioNs.  former  part  of  these  Notes,  should  have  fur- 
ther attention  relating  chiefly  to  this  work  in  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh.  Within  one  or  two  hundred 
miles  of  its  chief  town,  the  population  was  rapidly  in- 
creasing. Most  of  the  new-coming  people  were  of 
Presbyterian  preferences.  They  were  mostly  poor  in 
their  circumstances,  but  with  good  habits  and  industry 
they  were  gradually  becoming  "well  off."  Many  of 
the  families  were  anxious  to  enjoy  church  privileges,  and 
many  of  them  were  good  judges  of  good  preaching. 
Usually  they  needed  assistance,  however,  from  the 
Synod's  Board  for  a  time.  It  was  evidently  important 
to  secure  the  appointment  of  educated  ministers  as  pas- 


76  PRESBYTERIAN"  MISSIONS. 

tors  and  evangelists,  men  sound  in  tlie  faith,  of  preach- 
ing ability,  and  of  earnestness.  And  it  was  encouraging 
that  many  such  ministers  became  available. 

The  Board  of  Trust's  commission  to  its  missionaries 
was  usually  for  short  periods,  probably  on  account  of 
its  limited  funds ;  but  renewable  without  difficulty  if 
funds  were  forthcoming,  and  if  congregations  offered 
according  to  their  ability  to  provide  in  part  the  required 
support.  This  line  of  procedure  tended  to  promote  a 
settled  ministry  in  the  churches.  It  also  served  to  test 
the  adaptation  of  ministers  to  special  fields  of  labor. 
Some  ministers  had  to  work  on  farms  for  their  support, 
while  they  preached  on  the  Sabbath  in  feeble  churches 
or  as  opportunity  offered,  and  thereby  aided  in  collecting 
congregations  of  which  they  became  pastors,  while  their 
week-day  labors  tended  to  provide  for  their  famihes  and 
for  themselves  in  their  old  age.  In  addition  to  the 
Board's  evangelists,  the  pastors  of  the  stronger  churches 
in  many  cases  made  evangelizing  journeys,  to  preach  in 
new  settlements  and  in  locations  by  the  wayside. 
Several  notices  of  such  evangelizing  work  are  found  in 
the  missionary  records  of  those  years.  Another  may  be 
added  here : 

A  few  years  ago  a  retired  merchant  in  Kew  York, 
an  elder  in  one  of  the  princij)al  churches,  asked  the 
writer  of  these  Notes  if  he  had  ever  heard  of  a  Mr.  Tait, 
a  preacher  in  "Western  Pennsylvania  ?  "  O  yes,  I  knew 
him  well.  He  was  often  a  guest  at  my  father's  house — 
he  with  others  on  their  journeys  to  Synods  or  meetings 
of  Presbytery.  He  w^as  one  of  the  best  preachers." 
"Well,"  said  this  gentleman,  "to  him  I  owe  my  being 
led  to  Christ  as  my  Saviour."  He  was  then  a  young 
man  from  the  East,  on  a  visit  to  a  family  of  his  friends 
or  relatives  at  a  small  lumber  station  on  the  Alleghany 


SYKODIOAL  MISSIONS.  77 

River.  Mr.  Tait,  like  others  of  liis  brethren,  had  left 
his  church  on  a  short  tour  to  districts  as  yet  un supplied 
with  Gospel  privileges.  Travelling  on  horseback,  he 
stopped  at  this  river  settlement  near  the  end  of  the  week, 
some  thirty  miles  from  his  home.  There  he  preached 
to  a  few  people  on  the  Sabbath,  administered  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  to  some  communicants,  and 
early  in  the  next  week  went  on  his  way.  Among  his 
hearers  was  this  young  man.  Now  in  his  declining  years, 
after  a  life  of  active  service  for  our  blessed  Lord,  he 
still  cherished  the  memory  of  the  good  and  faithful 
minister.  A  son  and  a  grandson  of  the  venerable  elder 
are  esteemed  and  useful  Presbyterian  ministers. 
women's  Among  the  best  supporters,  of  these  mis- 
woRK.  sions  were  the  women  of  the  churches.  In 
those  early  days  and  in  a  new  and  sparsely  settled 
country,  where  ordinary  business  was  chiefly  conducted 
by  barter  and  but  little  money  was  available,  their 
missionary  gifts  were  in  many  cases  the  work  of  their 
own  hands.  By  weaving,  knitting,  and  sewing,  in  the 
use  of  flax  and  wool ;  in  preparing  articles  of  food 
that  admitted  of  transportation  in  a  rough  way ;  in  readi- 
ness to  go  as  missionary  teachers  and  helpers  at  Indkn 
stations,  when  Providence  permitted ;  above  all  in  the 
great,  if  not  the  greatest,  agency  of  prayer  for  the  divine 
blessing  on  this  evangelizing  work — in  all  such  ways 
their  interest  in  its  success  was  very  manifest.  And 
when  pecuniary  means  were  available,  who  could  be 
more  liberal  in  their  gifts  ?  The  meetings  for  prayer 
were  often  largely  their  meetings,  then  as  now.  All 
praise  for  their  labors,  all  honor  to  their  memory ! 

In  looking  over  the  acknowledgment  of  receipts  by 
the  W.  F.  M.  Society,  in  the  Missionarij  Chronicle^ 
nearly  sixty  years  ago,  one  cannot  but  notice  the  number 


78  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

and  the  variety  of  the  gifts  of  both  women  and  children 
to  the  foreign  missionary  cause,  then  just  organized  by 
the  Synod.  Female  Auxiliary  Society,  Female  Sewing 
Society,  Female  Benevolent  Society,  Female  Missionary 

Society,  Ladies  of Church,  names  often  repeated,  and 

also  many  anonymous  gifts  of  articles  of  jewelry,  and 
gifts  of  needle  and  knitting  work,— e.  g.,  "  26  pairs  of 
socks,  not  valued,"  for  an  Indian  mission,  etc.,  were  the 
sources  of  many  gifts.  In  far  the  most  cases  the  dona- 
tions of  the  women  were  united  with  those  of  the  men 
in  church  collections.  Gifts  of  Sunday-schools,  of 
several  children,  of  children  in  a  family,  of  a  boy  or  a 
girl,  were  also  frequently  acknowledged.  And  in  both 
these  classes  of  acknowledgments,  two  things  are  notice- 
able :  1st,  that  they  were  given  directly  to  the  Board  ; 
and  2d,  that,  with  the  exception  of  women's  donations 
to  constitute  Pastors  Honorary  Members,  the  donors 
hardly  ever  desired  a  special  object,  with  a  letter  or  a 
rejjort  in  reply. 

There  was,  however,  no  general  organization  of  the 
women  of  the  Church  in  those  days,  in  a  few  large 
Boards,  such  as  are  now  the  auxiliaries  of  the  Foreign 
Board,  G.  A.— auxiharies  doing  a  noble  work  in 
the  cause  of  missions.  Their  great  work,  great  it 
surely  is,  has  been  so  ordered  as  to  preserve  its  relations 
to  the  General  Assembly  through  the  Foreign  Board, 
G.  A.  This  is  done  by  reserving  to  the  Assembly's 
Board :  1st,  the  appointment  of  missionaries ;  2d,  the 
designation  of  their  mission  or  field  of  labor  ;  and  3d, 
the  amount  of  their  salary,  making  it  uniform  with  that 
of  their  sister  missionaries.  Under  these  rules  the  execu- 
tive officers  are  always  happy  to  be  aided  by  the  counsels 
and  the  information  of  the  auxiliary  Boards ;  while  the 
work  in  the  field  abroad  is  sufficiently  unified,  and  all 


STNODICAL  MISSIONS.  79 

parties  at  home  are  responsible  and  loyal  to  the  Church. 
Should  modifications  of  this  hne  of  policy  at  any  time 
seem  to  be  required,  the  public  opinion  of  the  friends.of 
missions  can  readily  find  expression  through  our  General 
Assembly. 

To  these  general  statements  of  Women's  Work  in  Syn- 
odical  Missions  may  be  added  a  beautiful  incident,  which 
years  ago  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  writer,  and  which 
occurred  in  one  of  these  Synods — an  example  in  its  spirit 
which  could  no  doubt  be  verified  in  cases  not  a  few. 
The  lovely  daughter  of  an  eminent  clergyman,  early  in 
this  century,  married  a  farmer's  son,  who  was  every  way 
worthy  of  her,  and  the  marriage  was  a  blessed  one. 
They  were  not  rich  in  this  world's  goods ;  he  was  a 
teacher  of  a  common  school,  which  yielded  but  little 
support,  but  he  could  add  something  to  their  comfort  by 
odds  and  ends  of  work  in  the  small  town,  while  she  was 
the  only  indoor  member  of  the  family.  He  pursued 
certain  studies,  and  became  qualified  for  a  wider  sphere 
of  life  ;  while  she  found  loving  work  in  the  charge  of  her 
children,  though  still  with  almost  no  domestic  assistance. 
Several  years  passed.  A  happier  and  more  loving  family 
could  seldom  be  found,  and  they  were  now  in  moderate 
but  comfortable  circumstances.  During  an  absence  of 
some  months  from  his  home,  and  thinking  of  the  good- 
ness of  God  to  his  household,  so  largely  owing  to  his 
beloved  wife,  he  felt  moved  to  send  her  a  gift  of  8100 — 
a  large  sum  for  them  ;  but  wishing  to  learn  what  would 
be  most  acceptable  to  her,  if  expended  in  the  large  city 
where  he  was  then  on  a  visit,  he  wrote  to  her  of  his 
purpose,  with  affectionate  references  to  the  goodness  of 
God  to  them  and  their  children,  which  had  followed  her 
loving  and  gentle  home  life.  Her  reply  was  worthy 
of  them  both,  while  it  showed  the  chief  end  of  her 


80  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

wishes.  She  could  not  be  too  grateful  for  her  husband's 
invariable  love  and  kindness.  She  needed  no  additional 
evidence  of  it ;  but  as  he  had  so  generously  thought  of 
her,  as  many  times  before,  she  would  suggest  that  his 

handsome  gift  should  be  sent  to  the Board  of  Foreign 

Missions.  And  this  was  done,  though  he  had  already 
made  his  usual  and  liberal  remittance  for  that  year  to 
its  funds. 

The  records  of  these  Synodical  Missions  show : 

1.  That  in  their  origin,  supervision,  administration, 
and  control,  they  were  all  in  the  charge  of  the  Synods. 
They  were  Church  Missions,  not  Voluntary  Society 
Missions. 

2.  That  in  their  beginning  they  antedated  the  leading 
Missionary  Boards  of  our  time.  They  had  their  Com- 
mission, Society,  or  Board,  elected  annually  by  the 
Synods ;  then-  Board  of  Trust  in  one  case,  or  Executive 
Committee;  their  Chairman,  sometimes  called  Presi- 
dent in  the  Minutes ;  their  Secretary  ;  their  Treasurer ; 
all  elected  annually.  They  met  at  stated  and  frequent 
times ;  they  kept  regular  Minutes  of  their  proceedings ; 
they  made  Annual  Eeports  of  their  work  to  the  Synods, 
for  review  and  control.  Their  first  dates  of  meeting 
were  1789  and  1802,  respectively.  The  earhest  of  the 
leading  Missionary  Boards  in  this  country  was  formed 
in  1810 ;  and  the  Foreign  Board  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, in  1837. 

3.  That  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  their  work 
they  depended  mainly  on  the  gifts  of  the  churches, 
and  these  were  bestowed  with  little  external  pressure, 
A  wise  economy  was  observed  in  all  administrative 
expenditures ;  the  executive  officers  set  a  good  example 
in  this  respect.  Seldom  were  collecting  agents  employed ; 
rarely  were  special  objects  allotted  to  particular  donors. 


SYNODICAL   MISSIONS.  81 

Appeals  directly  to  the  churches  for  the  support  of  the 
work  were  made  by  their  pastors,  under  the  sanction  of 
the  Synods  and  Presbyteries,  and  thereby  means  were 
obtained  for  the  support  of  the  missions.  It  was  on  the 
principle  of  Christian  stewardship,  and  the  belief  that 
giving  IS  the  fruit  of  divine  grace.  As  the  result  of 
this  belief  the  duty  was  recognized  that  hberal  giving 
was  to  be  promoted  by  the  use  of  the  means  of  grace — 
the  Word,  Sacraments,  and  Prayer.  The  teaching  of 
the  Word  did  not  undervalue  the  use  of  information, 
much  less  the  labors  of  pastors  in  their  own  pulpits 
and  by  exchange  with  each  otiier,  by  missionary  sermons 
at  Presbyteries  and  Synods,  as  well  as  at  other  religious 
services.  Not  much  reliance  was  placed  on  new  meas- 
ures, nor  was  any  disparaging  references  made  to  the 
methods  of  preceding  years.  The  ministers  were  men 
in  earnest.  They  preached  the  Scripture  doctrines  of 
their  Church  without  toning  them  down.  The  elders 
and  members  of  their  churches  were  in  sympathy  with 
their  teachers.  All  relied  on  the  regular  means  of  grace, 
as  appointed  by  God,  and  as  leading  to  obedience  to  His 
commandments — the  last  included. 

4.  That  great  success  was  given  to  these  missions. 
In  foroitrn  or  heathen  missions  but  limited  results  were 
obtained  in  some  cases,  though  with  encouragement  in 
others.  But  the  experience  acquired  bore  good  fruit  a 
few  years  later  in  the  organization  of  the  "Western  For- 
eign ^lissionary  Society.  Its  origin  resulted  from  the 
principles,  policy,  methods,  and  the  work  itself  of  these 
Synodical  Missions.  And  as  it  was,  in  successful  work, 
transferred  to  the  General  Assembly,  with  its  missions, 
property,  and  evident  proofs  of  the  blessing  of  God, 
its  history  may  be  referred  to  as  closely  connected  ^vith 
the   great    and    almost   world-wide    wurk    of    Missions 


82  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  down  to  the  present 
day. 

5.  For  the  Domestic  Missions  of  these  Synods,  let  a 
brief  summary  statement  bear  witness  to  their  success. 
The  splendid  country  within  a  hundred  miles  of  the 
chief  town  in  one  of  the  Synods  gradually  became  well 
settled,  and  its  people  generally  able  to  live  in 
comfortable  circumstances.  Then  with  equal  steps 
were  multiplied  churches,  schools,  colleges,  theological 
seminaries,  female  seminaries ;  clerical,  legal,  and  medi- 
cal men — well  educated,  and  women  of  superior  educa- 
tion ;  law,  order ;  towns,  villages ;  prospering  industries 
— especially  in  agricultural  and  mining  lines,  maimfac- 
tures,  commerce,  steamboats,  railways;  hospitals,  or- 
phan asylums,  public  libraries — almost  every  fruit  of 
Christian  civilization.  The  small  town,  originally  but 
a  fort  for  the  protection  of  its  few  people,  became  a 
city  of  238,000  by  the  late  census,  or  of  over  700,000 
people  in  its  immediate  suburbs  and  its  county. 

All  these  prospering  conditions  are  the  harvest  of  the 
grain  of  mustard-seed.  Thanks  for  the  early  and  hum- 
ble work  of  Christian  Missions  !  Thanks  above  all  for 
the  blessing  of  God  on  the  jDreaching  of  the  Gospel ! 

This  Note  may  suggest  two  remarks,  both  relating 
to  essential  subjects.  First,  the  system  of  doctrines 
held  by  these  Synods';  and  Second^  the  connection  of 
church  government  with  their  missions.  Only  brief 
statements  can  be  given  to  each. 

1st.  As  to  the  Doctrines,  the  Synods  stood  on  the  old 
rock  of  faith,  as  presented  by  Christ  himself  (John  iii. 
14-17;  Matthew  xxii.  14;  Luke  iv,  16-30).  The  creed 
of  their  members  and  supporters  was  that  of  their 
Church,  as  expressed  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  8S 

Faith.  Some  of  its  great  truths  as  bearing  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Christian  Missions:  1.  The  sovereign,  elect- 
ing, holy  purpose  of  God — from  eternity  to  eternity. 

2.  The  fallen,  sinful,  perishing,  and  hopeless  condition 
of  all  men.  3.  The  infinite  love  and  grace  of  God, 
the  blessed  Trinity,  as  manifested  in  redemption.  But 
all,  without  succession  in  the  mind  of  God. 

The  highest  motives  for  complying  with  the  will 
of  God,  revealed  to  his  disciples  by  Jesus  Christ:  1. 
His  last  commandment.     2.  Compassion  for  lost  souls. 

3.  Assurance  of  final  success,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  to  accompany  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature.  4.  The  promise  of  the  Saviour's  pres- 
ence with  His  disciples  in  the  fulfilment  of  His  com- 
mission, even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  And  so  the 
work  of  Christian  Missions  shall  end  with  the  uni- 
versal reign  of  grace. 

It  may  be  confidently  aflSrmed  that  not  a  minister  nor 
an  elder  could  be  found  in  these  Synods,  who  would 
not  avow  his  faith  in  these  divinely  revealed  doctrines 
and  motives.    All  was  harmony  in  doctrinal  belief. 

2d.  As  to  Church  order,  subsidiary  to  the  Doctrines, 
but  also  of  Scripture  warrant:  1.  The  Church  itself 
a  missionary  organization.  2.  Its  ministry  called  and 
commissioned  by  God,  ordinarily  at  the  request  of  His 
people.  3.  Ofiicial  parity  of  rank  maintained  among 
the  members  of  this  ministry.  4.  Churches  organized, 
and  united  under  the  care  of  Councils  or  Presbyteries, 
—not  independent  of  each  other  nor  dependent  on  but 
one  overseer.  5.  Euhng  Elders,  and  a  Minister,  one  or 
more,  chosen  by  the  communicants ;  their  action  open 
to  review  by  the  Presbytery.  6.  Deacons,  when  needed. 
7.  Representative  Presbyteries  or  Councils  constituted, 
equally  of  ministers  and  elders,  with  authoritative  but 


84  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

limited  power,  and  subject  to  appeal  to  the  chief  As- 
sembly. 

These  jprinciples  of  church  and  missionary  order 
remain  steadfast,  the  same  for  the  Presbyterian  Church 
now,  in  every  country,  as  for  the  Apostolic  churches 
of  Jerusalem,  Antioch,  or  Ephesus ;  but  the  aj)j)lica- 
tion  of  these  principles  may  vary  in  some  respects, 
according  to  Providential  conditions  as  to  time,  place, 
or  manner.  They  are  not  held  by  our  Christian 
people  in  such  a  sense  as  would  hinder  the  missionary 
work  of  Christian  brethren  of  other  churches.  But  as 
Christ  Jesus  is  the  great  Representative  of  His  people 
in  every  denomination,  and  their  Surety  in  the  Cove- 
nant of  Grace,  so  His  redeemed  people  may  represent 
Him  in  the  common  work  of  evangelization  according 
to  the  light  given  unto  them  severally  in  Holy  Script- 
ure, with  charity  and  sympathy  each  for  all. 

No  enlarged  treatment  of  these  subjects  is  in  place 
here,  but  they  all  point  to  Christ,  as  our  all  in  all  in  the 
work  of  missions. 3 

When  the  General  Assembly  reorganized  their  Board 
of  Missions,  in  1828,  they  declared,  as  has  been  shown, 
that  it  was  authorized  to  conduct  Foreign  as  well  as 
Domestic  Missions ;  and,  for  a  time,  both  these  objects 
commanded  the  earnest  attention  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. A  well  qualified  exploring  missionary  to  Greece 
was  appointed,  and  for  a  short  time  sanguine  hopes  were 
entertained  that  he  would  fulfil  his  appointment.  Event- 
ually, however,  he  declined  it,  on  considerations  which 
were  satisfactory  to  the  Committee.  An  attempt  was 
subsequently  made  to  establish  a  mission  among  the 
Chippeway  Indians.  An  exploring  agent  was  appointed, 
in  whose  behalf  governmental  influence  was  obtained, 
and  who  spent  more  than  a  year  in  the  service  of  the 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  85 

Board.  But  it  was  found  that  the  American  Board,  by 
extending,  as  was  then  in  contemplation,  the  operations 
of  its  establishment  at  Mackinaw,  could  most  advan- 
tageously take  cognizance  of  this  field  of  missionary 
enterprise,  and  to  that  Board  the  field  was  accordingly 
resigned.  By  this  time,  the  prosecution  of  domestic 
missions  had  become  so  extensive  and  onerous,  that  the 
opinion  generally  obtained,  among  the  friends  of  the 
General  Assembly's  Board,  that  till  a  separate  institution 
should  be  organized  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  for  the 
sole  management  of  Foreign  Missions,  the  existing  insti- 
tution would  better  confine  its  measures  to  the  Home 
department ;  and  leave  Foreign  operations  to  the  Amer- 
ican Board,  with  which  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  now  co-operating. 

MISSION  AT  It  was,  for  a  time,  confidently  expected 

BUENOS  AYREs.   by   the   frieuds   of    Orthodox    piety   in 
the  United    States,   as  well    as    in   Europe,   that   the 
Kevolution    in  South  America  would  open  a  door  for 
the  propagation  of  the  Protestant  religion;   and  san- 
guine   hopes   were    entertained    of   the    happy  effects 
that   were   speedily  to   result,   from  the   free   circula- 
tion of  the  Bible,  and  the  unobstructed  labors  of  mis- 
sionaries,   in    that    extensive    region;    in    which    the 
Eomish  superstition  had  so  long  and  so  oppressively 
prevailed.     Time  and  experience,  if  they  have  not  en- 
tirely blasted  these  hopes  and  expectations,  have  proved 
that  the  period  at  which  they  are  to  be  realized  is  yet 
future.   What  was  done  by  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
the  propagation  of   evangelical  truth,  may  be  learned 
from  the  following  extract  from  the  Christian  Advo- 
cate,, for  the  mouth  of  January,  1828.    The  article  from 
which  our  extract  is  made,  partakes  of  the  delusion  then 
prevalent,  and  is   headed— "A  Presbytery  in  Buenos 


86  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

Ayres."  The  editor  says :  "  We  have  before  us  a  letter 
from  the  Rev.  Theophilus  Parvin  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  dated  'Buenos  Ayres,  April  17th,  1827': 
Mr.  Parvin  was  ordained  as  a  missionary  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  in  January,  1826 ;  and  since  that 
time  has  been  enrolled  as  one  of  the  members  of  that 
body.  About  a  month  after  his  ordination,  he  sailed  for 
Buenos  Ayres  with  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Podney, 
the  American  minister,  who  died  at  that  place.  Early  in 
the  following  April,  as  appears  by  the  letter  before  us, 
he  arrived  in  safety  at  the  place  of  his  destination.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  diligently  occupied  in  missionary 
labors.  Having  determined  entirely  to  support  himself, 
a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  has  been  unavoidably 
spent  in  teaching.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Buenos 
Ayres,  he  received  the  appointment  of  'Professor  of 
Greek  and  English,'  in  the  university  established  in  that 
city.  This  appointment  he  resigned  last  autumn  ;  find- 
ing that  he  could  dispense  with  its  emoluments,  and  de- 
sirous to  secure  more  time  for  ministerial  labors.  His 
chief  reliance  for  support  at  present  is  on  a  flourishing 
academy  which  he  has  established,  containing,  at  the  last 
account,  about  fifty  scholars.  He  has  also  established,  in 
concert  with  Miss  McMulhn,  who  accompanied  him  from 
the  United  States  for  the  purpose,  a  promising  female 
academy,  to  which  some  of  his  attention  is  devoted. 
While  these  institutions  afiord  an  income  adequate  to  all 
the  wants  of  his  family,  they  are  in  fact  directly  sub- 
servient to  his  missionary  views.  They  promote  knowl- 
edge, and  prepare  for  the  reception  of  evangelical 
instruction.  He  has  preached  regularly,  first  in  his 
academy,  and  lately  in  a  large  room,  selected  and  fitted 
up  for  the  purpose.  A  chapel  is  greatly  needed,  and 
efforts  are  making  to  prepare  one.     The  Lord's  Supper 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  §7 

has  been  administered  three  times  a  year — the  first  time 
to  eight  communicants,  the  second  to  six,  the  third  to 
nine,  and  the  last  time  to  thirteen.   He  has  administered 
the  sacrament  of  Baptism  only  in  three  instances.     He 
had,  at  the  time  of  writing  his  letter,  celebrated  mar- 
riage  six   times.     A   Bible   Society  and   a  Missionary 
Society  have  been  established,  which  meet  monthly.     A 
flourishing  Sabbath-school,  of  one  hundred  and  seven 
scholars,  is  also  established— it  is  well  attended  and  in- 
creasing.    The  foregoing  statement  is  derived  from  Mr. 
Parvin's  communication  to  the  Presbytery,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  private  letter  which  we  have  seen  from  Mr. 
Torrey.     Mr.  Parvin's  letter  concludes  as  follows :  '  In 
conclusion,  I  am  happy  in  being  able  to  say,  that  in  my 
academical  and  clerical  labors,  I  have  for  the  last  six 
weeks  been  favored  with  the  valuable  services  of  the 
Eev.  William  Torrey.     In  consequence  of  his  arrival, 
and  the  settlement  of  the  Pev.  Mr.  Brown,  of  Scotland' 
in  a  village  of   Scotch  emigrants,  about  twelve  miles 
from  the  city,  we  shall  probably  find  it  expedient,  as 
soon  as  we  can  receive  dismissions  from  the  Presbyteries 
to  which  we  belong,  to  form  a  Presbytery  in  Buenos 
Ayres.     I  have  therefore  to  solicit  my  dismission  from 
your  reverend  body,  with  a  view  to  connect  myself  with 
a  Presbytery  to  be  organized  here.    The  great  difiiculty 
of  maintaining  any  intercourse  with  those  at  home,  be- 
cause of  the  close  blockade  of  our  port,  must  serve  as 
my  apology  for  not  having  forwarded,  some  months  since, 
a  communication  of  a  nature  similar  to  the  present.'  " 

In  consequence  of  the  information  contained  in  the 
letters  above  mentioned,  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the 
General  Assembly  was  convened,  when  two  communi- 
cations from  Mr.  Torrey,  dated  August  24th  and  25th, 
were  also  submitted  for  consideration,  by  the  members  to 


88  PRESBYTERIAig-  MISSIONS. 

whom  they  had  been  addressed.  It  appeared  that  Mr. 
Torre  J  was  very  actively  and  usefully  employed  in  mis- 
sionary labors,  but  that  he  needed  pecuniary  assistance. 
After  serious  deliberation  on  the  whole  subject,  a  minute 
was  made,  of  which  the  following  is  a  transcript : 

"Letters  were  read  from  Rev.  Messrs.  Parvin  and  Tor- 
rey,  at  Buenos  Ayres,  in  South  America.     Whereupon 

''Besolved,  That  two  hundred  dollars  be  allowed  for  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  Torrey,  and  that  Drs.  Janeway,  Green, 
and  Ely  be  a  committee  to  select  and  recommend  a  suit- 
able person  as  a  missionary  to  the  same  region."  The 
editor  of  the  Advocate  afterwards  adds :  "  We  are  glad 
to  be  able  to  state  that  the  committee  appointed  for  the 
purpose  have  the  prospect  of  engaging  a  promising 
young  missionary  to  go  to  the  aid  of  his  brethren  at 
Buenos  Ayres." 

The  sum  here  mentioned,  was  carefully  expended,  in 
the  purchase  of  clothing  for  the  missionary,  Bibles,  and 
other  books  for  the  mission,  and  some  articles  of  furni- 
ture, to  aid  in  fitting  up  an  apartment  as  a  place  of  pub- 
lic worship.  The  articles  were  forwarded  and  arrived  in 
safety.  It  is  believed  that  the  communicants  mentioned 
above,  consisted  of  the  mission  family  and  other  strangers 
from  Britain  and  the  United  States. 

Such  were  the  flattering  prospects  and  fond  anticipa- 
tions, which  were  destined  to  terminate  in  utter  disap- 
pointment. A  particular  detail  of  the  unpropitious 
circumstances  and  causes  which  occasioned  the  unhappy 
result,  it  is  unnecessary,  and  would  be  tedious  to  specify. 
The  amount  was— that  no  additional  missionary  could  at 
that  time  be  engaged  to  reinforce  the  establishment— the 
female  teacher  was  disappointed  in  her  expectations,  and 
returned  to  the  United  States— not  long  after,  Mr.  Par- 
vin buried  his  wife,  lost  his  own  health,  which  he  never 


SYNODICAL   MISSIONS.  89 

fully  recovered,  and  returned,  witii  two  motherless  chil- 
dren, to  liis  native  country — every  prospect  became  in- 
creasingly dark — no  Presbytery  was  ever  formed — and 
the  mission  languished,  till  it  became  nearly,  if  not 
entirely,  extinct.  Mr.  Brown,  it  is  believed,  went  to 
Scotland,  and  afterwards  returned,  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Buenos  Ayres.  Mr.  Torrey,  it  is  understood,  has  not 
long  since  returned  to  the  United  States. 

But  the  failure  of  this  mission  might,  and  probably 
would  have  been  repaired,  by  another,  better  concerted 
and  arranged,  had  it  not,  in  its  progress,  and  by  similar 
and  simultaneous  failures  of  other  missionary  bodies, 
shown  conclusively,  that  the  causes  of  disappointment 
were  deeply  seated  in  the  state  of  society  and  the  habits 
of  the  people.  In  a  word,  the  engrossing  concerns  and 
scenes  of  a  revolutionary  state,  the  prevalence  of  infi- 
delity among  men  of  station  and  liberal  knowledge,  the 
general  and  total  ignorance  of  the  nature  of  religious 
liberty,  the  strong  remaining  influence  of  bigotry  and 
superstition  in  the  mass  of  the  people,  cherished  by  the 
deadly  hostility  to  reformation  of  the  larger  part  of  the 
popish  priesthood,  rendered  it  indubitable  that  changes 
for  the  better  must  be  the  work  of  time,  be  produced 
by  gradual  advances,  and  by  the  improvement  of  an 
ignorant  and  deeply  depraved  population. 


THKEE  CLASSES  IN  It  was  matter  of  painful  regret  to 

FRIENDS  OF  MISSIONS,  many  Presbyterians,  both  lay  and 
clerical,  that  for  several  years  in  succession,  the  Church 
of  their  preference,  although  both  large  and  wealthy,  had 
in  its  distinctive  character,  no  part  whatever,  so  far  as  the 
heathen  were  concerned,  in  carrying  into  effect  the  Sav- 
iour's parting  command  to  His  disciples,  "  to  teach  all  na- 
tions— to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.''     There 


90  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

seem  to  have  been  three  sections,  or  classes— not  to  de- 
nominate  them   parties— in   the  Presbyterian  Church, 
that  differed  in  their  sentiments,  relative  to  the  most  eli- 
gible method  of  prosecuting  foreign  missions— all  admit- 
tmg  that  the  duty  of  sustaining  them  was  important,  and 
obligatory  on  all  Christians.     One  of  these  classes  con- 
sidered an  ecclesiastical  organization,  if  not  essential,  yet 
of  such  moment,  that  they  would  countenance  no  mis- 
sionary institution  that  was  otherwise  constituted  ;   and 
therefore  would  contribute  nothing,  or  very  little,  to  the 
American  Board.     When  the  spirit  of  missions  4as  first 
awakened  in  this  country,  by  what  had  been  done  and  was 
still  doing  in  Britain,  few  had  any  digested  and  system- 
atic opinions  on  the  subject.     The  desire  was  to  promote 
missionary  effort,  in  any  way  that  appeared  practicable. 
Hence  it   happened   (as   in  such  cases  it  will  always 
happen)  that  examination,  experience,  and  observation, 
led  many  to  change  both  opinion  and  action,  in  regard 
to  the  conduct  of  missions.     No  inconsiderable  number 
of  those  who  for  a  time  contributed  to  the  American 
Board,  changed  their  views,  and  became  unwilling  to 
patronize  any  institution  of  a  missionary  kind,  which  had 
not  an  ecclesiastical  organization  and  responsibility. 

A  second  class  agreed  with  the  first,  in  thinking  that 
an  ecclesiastical  organization  was  clearly  the  most  Script- 
ural, and  in  every  view  the  most  desirable.  Some  of 
them  even  declared,  that  they  were  penetrated  with  grief 
and  shame,  at  seeing  the  Presbyterian  Church  so  regard- 
less both  of  duty  and  reputation,  as  to  neglect  to  form, 
and^  zealously  and  effectually  maintain,  a  missionary  es- 
tabhshment  of  her  own;  and  they  affirmed  that  they 
did  believe  the  frown  of  Zion's  King  was  resting,  and 
would  continue  to  rest  on  this  Church,  so  long  as  she 
continued  disobedient  to  His  express  command.     Still 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  ■  91 

they  maintained,  that  till  the  Presbyterian  Church  could 
be  roused  to  proper  action  on  this  important  subject,  for 
which  they  declared  they  would  never  cease  to  pray  and 
labor,  it  was  far  better  to  co-operate  with  the  American 
Board,  than  to  remain  wholly  inactive,  and  do  nothing 
in  the  great  cause  of  evangelizing  the  world.     They  re- 
marked, that  although  the  American  Board  was  a  secular 
institution  in  its  corporate  character,  and  was  brought 
into  existence  by  the  agency,  and  for  the  special  accom- 
modation of  congregational  and  independent  churches, 
yet,  for  the  present,  all  its  concerns  were  conducted  by 
men  of  decided  piety ;  that  their  missionaries  also  were 
eminently  good  and  devoted  men,  and  that  among  them 
were  numbered  some  of  the  youth  trained  at  our  own 
theological  seminaries ;  that  the  measures  of  the  Board 
were,  for  the  most  part,  prudently  taken  and  well  con- 
ducted ;  that  its  liberality  was  such  as  to  enroll  several 
Presbyterians  among  its  corporate,  and  many  among  its 
honorary  members  ;  and  that  God  had  crowned  the  mis- 
sions of  this  Board  with  great  success.     These  things 
considered,  the  Presbyterians  of  this  class  avowed  their 
determination  to  co-operate,   cheerfully  and  zealously, 
with  the  American  Board,  till  an  organization  which 
they  could  fully  approve,  should  be  formed  in  their  own 
Church.     Accordingly,  those   of  this   class  who  were 
members  of  the  Board,  often  attended  its  annual  meet- 
ings, and  took  an  interested  and  active  part  in  all  its 
proceedings ;  contributed,  and  encouraged  others  to  con- 
tribute liberally,  to  its  funds ;  countenanced  and  assisted 
its  agents ;  often  advocated  its  cause  in  Synods,  Presby- 
teries, and  congregations ;  voted  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly in  favor  of  recommending  it  to  the  kindness  and 
patronage  of  the  churches;  and  manifested  toward  it 
every  act  of  friendship  in  their  power,  short  of  taking 


92  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

part  in  any  measure  for  formally  associating  the  Pres- 
byterian Clmrcli  witli  it,  as  one  of  its  integral  and 
constituent  parts ;  for  to  this,  they  declared  they  were 
decisively  and  irreconcilably  opposed. 

Many  individuals  of  this  second  class,  and  probably  of 
the  first  also,  besides  the  preference  which  they  gave  to 
an  ecclesiastical  organization,  were  deliberately  of  the 
opinion,  that  the  union  of  the  whole  Presbyterian 
Church  with  the  American  Board  in  missionary  con- 
cerns, would  create  a  body  too  large  for  useful  action, 
especially  when  they  looked  forward  to  the  magnitude 
it  would  acquire  in  a  short  time  to  come.  They  thought 
that  the  American  Board  was  already  as  large  as  it 
ought  to  be ;  and  that  the  Presbyterian  Church,  if 
united,  would  make  another  body  of  magnitude  suffi- 
cient to  act  with  the  greatest  advantage.  This  opinion 
is  strongly  reinforced  by  a  publication  of  the  Baptist 
missionaries  at  Serampore — the  result  of  long  experi- 
ence and  close  observation.  With  much  in  the  same 
strain,  they  say :  "To  those  who  carefully  weigh  the 
subject,  it  will  be  evident,  that  there  must  be  limits, 
beyond  which  a  missionary  body  can  scarcely  go,  with- 
out almost  wholly  losing  its  nature,  and  managing  its 
concerns  in  quite  a  secular  manner ;  and  when  this  is  the 
case,  the  genuine  missionary  spirit  evaporates,  and  with 
it  the  hope  of  any  extensive  success."  See  "  Thoughts 
on  the  propagation  of  Christianity  more  effectually 
among  the  Heathen." 

The  Southern  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  composed 
of  the  Synods  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  East 
Tennessee ;  and  the  Central  Board,  formed  by  the 
Synods  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  both  aux- 
iliary to  the  American  Board,  appear  to  have  acted  on 
the  general  principles  of  this  second  class  of  Presby- 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  93 

terians— differing,  perhaps,  in  some  shades  of  opinion. 
Both  these  Boards   are   now  looking  forward   to   the 
period,  when,  in  consistency  with  existing  engagements 
they  may  formally  and  fully  co-operate  with  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

There  was  a  third  class  of  Presbyterians,  who  were 
fully  of  the  opinion  that  no  separate  organization  was 
either    necessary    or    expedient    in    the    Presbyterian 
Church ;  that  every  dictate  of  duty,  interest,  and  a  re- 
gard to  economy,  in  the  expenditure  of  money  collected 
for  missionary  purposes,  urged  to  a  formal  union,  or 
amalgamation  of  interests  and  action  with  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions ;  and  that 
the  General  Assembly  ought  to  adopt  the  most  decisive 
measures,  and  use  all  its  influence,  to  bring  out  the  whole 
strength  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  support  of  the 
measures  and  operations  of  that  Board.     They  pleaded 
that  a  large  proportion  of  the  Presbyterian  population 
was  ardently  attached  to  this  Board,  constantly  received 
and  highly  prized  its  publications,  contributed  cheerfully 
to  its  funds,  and  would  be  better  pleased  with  a  formal 
connection  with  it,  than  with  any  other  measure  or  ar- 
rangement that  could  be  adopted,  in  regard  to  this  sub- 
ject.    Many  of  those  who  composed  this  class,  if  not 
complete  Congregationalists  in  sentiment,  had   strong 
congregational   leanings;    and   others,  whose   opinions 
were   more   strictly   Presbyterian,    thought   that   there 
ought  to  be  no  objection  to  a  full  concert  in  action,  with 
a  Board  in  which  there  were  so  many  members  both  of 
the  clergy  and  the  laity  of  their  own  denomination.     If 
good  was  done,  they  thought  it  a  matter  of  no  import- 
ance, whether  it  were  done  by  a  secular  or  an  ecclesias- 
tical organization. 

It  was  this  class  of  Presbyterians  that  attempted,  in 


94  PRESBYTERIAl^  MISSIONS. 

the  General  Assembly  of  1826,  to  obtain  the  adoption 
of  all  the  terms  which  had  been  agreed  upon  with  the 
American  Board,  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  United 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  when  a  transfer  was  to  be 
made  of  the  concerns  and  property  of  the  latter  Board 
to  the  former.     In  this  attempt,  it  has  been  seen,  they 
failed.     The  attempt,  however,  was  renewed  in  1831  • 
when  a  Committee  of  conference  with  the  American 
Board  was  appointed,  with  direction  to  report  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  following  year  (1832).     This 
report  was  made  accordingly,  and  contained  a  long  and 
elaborate  statement,  setting  forth  the  many  reasons  and 
considerations,  which  should  induce  the  General  Assem- 
bly, as  the  representative  of  the  Presbyterian  denomi- 
nation, to  enter  into  a  formal  agreement  to  co-operate 
with  the  American  Board,  without  attempting  any  other 
organization  for  the  prosecution  of  Foreign  Missions  • 
and  endeavoring  to  obviate  the  objections  which  might 
be  urged  against  such  a  measure.     The  writer  was  pres- 
ent when  this  report  was  read,  and  it  commanded  all  his 
attention,    l^ot  being  able  to  obtain  an  inspection  of  the 
report,  he  has  been  obliged  to  make  the  statement  of  its 
purport  from  memory.     In  preparing  most  of  the  state- 
ments of  this  sketch,  he  has  had  his  authorities  before 
him ;  and  has  felt  regret  whenever  it  has  been  otherwise. 
But   the  Assembly  again  acted   as  they  had  done   in 
1826.     The  short  minute  adopted  on  the  subject  is  as 
follows : 

"Thursday  morning.  May  31.— The  report  was  taken 
up,  and,  after  some  discussion,  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted,  viz. : 

''Resolved,  That  while  the  Assembly  would  express 
no  opinion  in  relation  to  the  principles  contained  in  the 
report,  they  cordially  recommend  the  American  Board 


SYNODICAL  MISSIONS.  95 

of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  to  the  affection 
and  patronage  of  their  churches." 

Thus  it  appears  tliat  till  1836,  there  was  never  a  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  which  the  friends  of  a  formal  union  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  with  the  American  Board  had 
influence  enough  to  obtain  an  act  of  the  supreme  judi- 
catory, in  favor  of  such  a  measure.  Nor  indeed  was 
such  a  measure  formally  adopted  by  the  Assembly  of 
1836;  although  what  was  actually  done,  was  calculated, 
and  probably  intended,  to  make  the  Presbyterian  Church 
entirely  subservient,  in  its  missionary  concerns,  to  that 
Board. 

Of  the  three  classes  of  Presbyterians  that  have  been 
mentioned,  the  two  latter,  it  appears,  co-operated  clieer- 
fully  and  liberally  with  the  American  Board,  during  the 
period  in  which  there  was  no  missionary  organization  in 
the  Church  of  which  they  were  members.     To  this  co- 
operation, a  portion  of  the  efficiency  and  extensive  suc- 
cess of  the  American  Board  ought,  in  justice,  to  be  at- 
tributed.    Its  amount  it  would  be  difficult  to  calculate 
and  the  plan  of  this  sketch  does  not  require  that  an 
estimate  should  be  attempted.     The  praise  of  all  success 
belongs  to  God  alone,  whatever  instrumentality  He  may 
use  and  honor  in  its  production.    The  present  writer  has 
always  conmiended  the  wisdom  generally  displayed,  in 
the  plans  and  operations  of  that  Board,  and  the  zeal  and 
indefatigable  perseverance  with  which  they  have  been 
executed.     Till  the  formation  of  the  Western  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions,  his  mite  of  influence  and  pecuniary 
contribution  was  given  to  it;  and  he  has  never  ceased  to 
pray  for  its  success,  and  to  rejoice  in  its  usefulness  and 
prosperity. 


'96  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

THEORY  OP  [The    New   Testament    contains 

♦' church"  MISSIONS,  frccjuent  references  to  the  mis- 
sionary labors  of  the  early  Christians.  It  was  a 
work  commanded  by  om'  Lord  Himself.  It  was  to  be 
begun  at  home,  "at  Jerusalem."  It  was  to  be  continued 
"among  all  nations"  (Luke  xxiv.  47).  The  Acts  of  the 
Apostles  is  chiefly  a  record  of  these  labors.  From  the 
inspired  narrative,  we  learn  that  the  work  of  missions 
was  regarded  as  the  common  work  of  the  Church,  a 
work  in  which  all  its  members,  clerical  and  lay,  men 
and  women,  were  called  to  take  an  active  part.  This 
was  done  by  them  all,  each  in  his  own  sphere,  yet  under 
some  simple  form  of  organization.  This  organization, 
we  may  believe,  was  that  of  the  Church  itself  (Acts 
xi.  22,  xiii.  1-4,  xiv.  27,  xv.  22,  etc.).  Hence  we  reason- 
ably infer  that  the  work  of  sending  the  Gospel  to  the 
unevangelized  is  the  proper  work  of  the  Church  as  such ; 
and  we  understand  the  last  commandment  of  our  Lord, 
Matt,  xxviii.  19,  20,  as  teaching  this  doctrine.  It  is  a 
commandment  which  is  obligatory  on  all  the  disciples  of 
Christ,  upon  each  in  his  place,  but  which  cannot  be  fully 
obeyed  by  Christians  apart  from  the  Church ;  the  recog- 
nition and  due  ordering  of  men's  right  to  preach  and  to 
administer  the  sacraments,  duties  expressly  mentioned  in 
this  commandment,  are  matters  which  nearly  all  Chris- 
tians consider  as  of  Church  authority.  This  authority 
is  to  be  exercised,  not  to  hinder  or  fetter,  but  to  foster, 
direct,  and  promote  the  great  object  of  making  disciples 
of  all  nations.  In  this  we  see  one  of  the  noblest  pur- 
poses of  the  Church ;  and  the  form  of  church  govern- 
ment, and  much  more  the  doctrines  embraced,  which 
best  engage  the  disciples  of  Christ  in  the  work  of  mis- 
sions, and  best  promote  their  usefulness  in  this  work, 
may  well  be  considered  as  most  in  accordance  with  the 


SYNODICAL  MISRI0X3.  97 

divine  standard.  In  tliese  views  also  we  see  tlie  duty  of  all 
Christian  people — of  ministers  and  other  church  officers 
especially — to  enter  fully  on  the  work  of  evangelization, 
not  waiting  for  nor  relying  on  external  or  "  Voluntary  " 
agency  to  take  this  duty  from  their  hands,  but  them- 
selves fulfilling  it  as  pertaining  to  their  office  and  place 
in  the  Church  of  Christ  equally  with  any  other  part  of 
their  sacred  duties ;  and  the  duty  of  all  the  members  of 
the  Church,  to  live  for  no  object  inferior  to  the  glory  of 
Christ  in  the  conversion  of  the  world. 

It  is  easy  to  frame  the  missionary  plans  of  the  Church 
in  agreement  with  this  theory.  The  work  of  missions  is 
indeed  great.  It  embraces  all  the  unevangelized  nations. 
It  includes  every  good  method  of  planting  and  building 
up  the  Church.  Its  object  is  simple,  and  the  means  it 
employs  to  achieve  this  object  are  varied,  according  to 
the  various  gifts  of  the  laborers,  and  the  differing  cir- 
cumstances of  unevangelized  people.  It  is  not  intended, 
however,  to  describe  here  at  any  length  the  nature  of 
this  work.  While  its  general  object  is  well  understood, 
the  means  of  promoting  this  object  are  equally  plain ; 
they  are  very  much  the  same  as  are  employed  in  our 
churches  in  this  country  :  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel ; 
education  of  children  and  youth  under  Christian  influ- 
ence in  schools  of  different  kinds  ;  translation  and  print- 
ing of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  preparation  of  other 
Christian  books ;  forming  of  churches.  Presbyteries,  and 
Synods.  All  of  these  means  look  to  the  end  of  the  con- 
version of  souls,  or  the  spread  and  reception  of  the  re- 
ligion of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the  great  salvation. 

As  these  divinely  appointed  means  are  attended  with 
success,  the  work  of  missions  will  pass  more  and  more 
into  the  hands  of  native  ministers  of  the  Gospel  sup- 
ported by  native  churches,  until  eventually  the  work  of 


98  EESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

the  foreign  missionary  will  come  to  a  happy  end.  In 
the  meantime,  all  his  plans  and  measures  should  be 
directed  to  this  object,  and  the  utmost  care  should  be 
taken  in  the  training,  employment,  and  support  of  native 
missionary  laborers,  in  the  building  of  churches,  etc., 
that  precedents  should  not  be  established  which,  by  their 
pecuniary  cost,  or  by  reason  of  any  foreign  peculiarities, 
would  prove  embarrassing  to  the  growth  and  self-sup- 
port of  the  native  Church.  The  main  thing  to  be  kept 
in  view  by  the  foreign  missionary  is  that  of  teaching  the 
great  truths  of  the  Gospel,  clearly  and  fully,  exempli- 
fying these  lessons  in  his  life,  and  depending  on  the 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  sought  constantly  in  prayer, 
to  apply  unto  men  the  benefits  of  redemption. 

The  followers  of  Christ  are  living  in  different  coun- 
tries.    A  universal  missionary  institution  could  be  con- 
ducted only  on  the  plan  of  concentrating  the  whole 
power  in  the  hands  of  a  few  men,  who  would  be  virtu- 
ally irresponsible  to  their  brethren.     The  fallen  Church 
of  Rome  is  the  only  body  of  professed  Christians  that 
attempts  to  carry  forward  missions  by  such  an  organiza- 
tion, and  her  success  does  not  invite  imitation.     Even 
when  Evangelical  Christians  living  in  the  same  coun- 
try, though  delightfully  one  in  spirit  and  in  purpose, 
adopt  different  views  of  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  ques- 
tions.    Their  harmony  and  eflSciency  at  home  would  not 
be  promoted  by  their  fusion  into  one  denomination, 
neither  would  their  missionary  labors  abroad  be  more 
effective  by  being  placed  under  the  charge  of  a  common 
Society.     Questions  about  the  mode  and   subjects  of 
baptism,  the  use  of  ruling  elders  in  the  Church,  the  or- 
dination of  ministers,  the  exercise  of  church  disciphne, 
not  to  instance  purely  doctrinal  points,  present  them- 
selves as  readily  at  a  missionary  station,  when  the  Gospel 


SYNODICAL   MISSIONS.  99 

begins  to  bring  forth  fruit  in  the  conversion  of  sonls,  as 
they  do  in  a  Christian  land ;  and  if  the  missionaries  hold 
conflicting  opinions  on  these  questions,  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  their  infant  churches  are  likely  to  be  seri- 
ously injured. 

It  is  best  for  each  large  body  of  Christians  to  have  its 
own  missionary  organization  ;  and  the  simpler  this  can 
be  made  the  better.     Its  form  must  depend  in  some  de- 
gree on  the  distinctive  institutions  and  customs  of  the 
denomination :  the  prevailing  views  of  church  govern- 
ment in  each  body  will  materially  influence  the  form  of 
missionary   movement.     On   the   Independent   theory, 
which  considers  every  particular  church  as  sustaining  no 
relations  to  other  churches,  excepting  those  of  Christian 
fellowship,  it  would  be  difiicult,  yet  not  impracticable, 
to  frame  a  Missionary  Society  on  a  plan  that  would  secure 
direct  responsibility  to  the  churches  as  churches.     As 
commonly  understood  this  form  of  church  government 
provides  no  common  court  of  appeal,  nor  any  general 
superintending  body  with  authoritative  power.   Kecourse 
is  usually  had  to  some  kind  of  associated  action  separate 
from  the  churches,  or  not  ecclesiastical ;  and  reliance  is 
placed  mainly  on  the  public  opinion  of  the  denomina- 
tion for  a  satisfactory  administration  of  its  affairs.    The 
Methodist,  Episcopal,  and  Presbyterian  denominations 
have  their  respective  peculiarities,  also,  and  it  would  be 
easy  to  show  how  these  must  influence  the  question  of 
missionary  polity.     But  the  principle  of  Representation 
admits  of  many  applications.     In  religious  institutions, 
however,  it  ought  seldom  if  ever  to  rest  on  a  pecuniary 
basis. 

A  Society  may  be  denominational,  and  yet  not  ecclesi- 
astical,—supported  exclusively  by  the  members  of  some 
one  denomination,  sending  forth  only  missionaries  of  its 


100  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

order,  and  yet  not  amenable  to  its  ecclesiastical  authori- 
ties, but  to  those  persons  only  who  contribute  to  its 
funds,  or  who  are  associated  in  a  certain  way.  In  some 
conditions  of  the  Church,  this  form  may  be  expedient, 
and  for  a  time  the  only  one  practicable ;  as  where  the 
prevailing  state  of  feeliog  is  hostile  to  missions.  In  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  it  should  be  acknowledged  with 
gratitude,  no  expedient  of  this  kind  is  needful.  The 
duty  of  Christian  missions  is  commonly  recognized,  and 
it  is  quite  practicable  to  frame  a  missionary  organization 
amenable  to  its  Church  courts,  and  at  the  same  time 
open  to  the  healthful  influence  of  public  opinion.  In 
this  way  the  opportunity  is  offered  to  all  its  members  to 
promote  the  missionary  work,  with  the  same  free  choice 
in  action,  the  same  safeguards  of  truth  and  order,  the 
same  responsibihty  to  ecclesiastical  supervision,  the 
same  power  resulting  from  oneness  of  views,  purity 
of  doctrine,  and  the  indwelling  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
the  spirit  of  missions, — precisely  the  same  abroad,  as  at 
home;  in  the  Presbytery  of  Lodiana  as  in  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  York. — "  Foreign  Missions,"  1868.] 


THE    WESTEEN    FOKEIGK    MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 

IN  the  month  of  November,  1831,  the  Synod  of  Pitts- 
burgh— always  the  most  forward  and  active  Synod 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  missionary  enterprise 
and  effort — formed  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society.  The  origin,  and  the  general  nature  and  design 
•  of  this  institution,  njay  be  learned  from  the  following 
extracts  from  the  Circular  letter,  issued  immediately 
after  its  formation,  and  from  the  first  four  articles  of  its 
Constitution.  Having  declared  that  the  Society  "did 
not  originate  in  any  feeling  of  jealousy  or  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions — in  any  desire  to  diminish  its  resources 
or  impair  that  measure  of  public  confidence  which  it 
certainly  and  justly  enjoys,"  the  Circular  proceeds  as 
follows : 

"  As  there  is  much  diversity  and  fluctuation  of  opin- 
ion in  the  General  Assemblies  of  our  Church,  as  to  the 
propriety  of  undertaking  Foreign  Missions  at  all,  or  in 
union  with  Domestic,  it  is  conceived  that  no  existing 
Board  does,  in  fact,  fill  that  place  which  is  here  proposed, 
and  which  seems  requisite  to  a  complete  enlistment  of 
the  charities  and  prayers  of  the  whole  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  the  great  and  glorious  work  of  Missions  to 
the  heathen.  The  practice  of  designating  those  who  are 
to  watch  over  her  interests,  and  dispense  her  charities 
through  her  regularly  constituted  judicatories,  has  so 
long:  existed  in  the  Presbvterian  Church,  and  is  so  inter- 
woven  with  her  form  of  government,  that  its  absence 
from  such  stated  plans  of  evangelical  effort  as  the  Mis- 

(101) 


102  PKESBYTERIAiq-  MISSIONS. 

sionary  cause  presents,  does  very  naturally  produce  dis- 
satisfaction and  lukewarmness  in  some,  and  an  almost 
entire  neglect  of  the  great  object  in  others.  Such,  ac- 
cordingly, has  been  the  fact,  to  a  great  extent,  in  the 
Middle  and  Western  States,  and  nothing  but  a  plan 
which  recognizes  the  Church,  in  her  very  organization, 
as  a  society  for  Missions  to  the  heathen,  and  which  pre- 
sents such  a  kind  of  Presbyterial  representation  and 
supervision  as  gives  an  ecclesiastical  responsibility  to  her 
agents,  can,  it  is  believed,  ever  fully  bring  up  her  Pres- 
byteries and  churches  '  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against 
the  mighty.'  The  obvious  want  of  such  an  arrangement, 
felt  more  deeply  here  than  in  some  other'  parts  of  the 
Presbyterian  Churcb,  led  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  at  its 
late  sessions  to  move  in  this  business ;  partly  from  the 
belief  that,  under  existing  circumstances,  it  would  be 
better  for  some  Synod  which  could  be  nearly  or  quite 
harmonious  in  its  measures,  to  undertake  the  plan,  than 
for  the  General  Assembly  to  attempt  it;  and  partly 
from  the  conviction  that  a  central  location  would  better 
suit  distant  parts  of  the  country,  and  that  this,  near  one 
of  the  theological  seminaries  of  the  Church,  and  yet  un- 
embarked  actively  in  any  great  public  enterprise,  would, 
at  least  for  a  time,  answer  a  better  purpose,  especially 
for  Western  Missions,  than  any  other.  Aside  from  such 
a  degree  of  Synodical  supervision  as  seemed  necessary 
to  the  very  existence  of  such  a  society,  you  will  see  by 
examining  the  accompanying  constitution,  that  it  is 
strictly  a  Presbyterial  arrangement,  and  gives  the  man- 
agement of  the  whole  concern  to  those  from  whom  the 
resources  are  to  be  drawn.  It  aims  at  uniting  those 
portions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  which  prefer  such 
a  plan  of  operation,  in  a  new,  earnest,  and  persevering 
endeavor,   to   fulfill   the   duty   which  we   owe   to   the 


THE   WESTEKTi  FOR.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  103 

heathen  of  our  own  and  foreign  lands ;  and  of  impart- 
ing to  our  church  judicatories  as  such,  a  due  sense  of 
responsibih'tj,  and  such  a  missionary  impulse  as  these 
eventful  times  imperiously  require.  If  the  undertak- 
ing, owned  and  blessed  of  God,  meets  the  friendly  con- 
sideration of  our  churches  and  Presbyteries,  it  will  be 
subject  to  their  control,  and  can,  if  they  wish  it,  be 
transferred,  as  to  the  centre  of  its  operations,  to  whatever 
part  of  the  Church  they  please.  In  the  meantime,  dear 
brother,  let  us  be  up  and  doing.  We  are  anxious  to  de- 
spatch, if  possible,  this  very  year,  a  mission  to  Central 
Africa,  or  some  still  more  eligible  unoccupied  field  on 
the  Eastern  continent ;  and  we  would  be  glad  at  the 
Bame  time  to  institute  a  Western  mission,  so  soon  as  we 
may  be  able  to  make  a  judicious  selection  of  the  best 
opening  for  such  an  effort." 

CONSTITUTION.  "  Articlc  1.  This  Society  shall  be  com- 
posed of  the  Ministers,  Sessions,  and  Churches  of  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  together  with  those  of  any  other 
Synod  or  Synods,  Presbytery  or  Presbyten'es,  that  may 
hereafter  formally  unite  with  them,  and  shall  be  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  the  United  States. 

"  2.  The  objects  of  the  Society  shall  be  to  aid  in  ful- 
filling  the  last  great  command  of  the  glorified  Redeemer, 
by  conveying  the  Gospel  to  whatever  parts  of  the 
Heathen  and  antichristian  world  the  providence  of  God 
may  enable  this  Society  to  extend  its  evangelical  exer- 
tions, 

"  3.  'J'he  centre  of  its  operations  shall  be  the  city  of 
Pittsburgh,  at  least  until  such  times  as  the  Board  of 
Directors  shall  judge  that  the  interests  of  the  cause 
require  a  change  of  location,  which,  however,  shall  never 
be  effected  without  the  consent  of  the  Synod  of  Pitts- 


104  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

burgh ;  and  in  the  event  of  sncli  a  change,  then  the 
special  provisions  of  a  Synodical  supervision  and  repre- 
sentation, mentioned  in  this  constitution,  shall  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  General  Assembly,  or  to  that  particular 
Sjnod  within  whose  bounds  the  operations  of  the  Society 
shall  be  concentred. 

"  4.  The  general  superintendence  of  the  interests  of 
this  Society  shall  be  confided  to  a  Board  of  Directors,  to 
be  appointed  in  the  following  manner,  to  wit:  The 
Synod  shall  elect,  at  the  present  time,  of  persons  resid- 
ing in  Pittsburgh  and  its  vicinity,  six  Ministers  and  six 
Ruling  Elders,  whose  terms  of  service  shall  be  so  ar- 
ranged that  those  of  two  Ministers  and  two  Ruling 
Elders  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  one  year,  and  two  of 
each  at  the  end  of  two  years,  and  the  remaining  two  at 
the  end  of  three  years,  and  the  Synod  shall  ever  after 
elect  annually  one-third  of  this  number,  or  two  Minis- 
ters and  two  Ruling  Elders ;  and  in  the  event  of  a  re- 
newal of  the  charter  of  the  Western  Missionary  Society, 
so  amended  as  to  meet  the  present  objects  of  this 
Society,  then  the  said  twelve  persons  herein  mentioned 
shall  constitute,  for  the  time  being,  the  trustees  and  legal 
representatives  of  the  Synod  ;  to  fulfill  the  duties  of 
such  trust  in  the  manner  which  may  be  specified  in  the 
said  charter.  2.  The  Synod  shall  also  elect  one  Minister 
and  one  Ruhng  Elder,  from  each  of  the  Presbyteries 
now  composing  this  body,  the  one-half,  or  four  Ministers 
and  four  Elders,  to  be  chosen  for  two  years,  and  the  re- 
maining four  for  one  year,  but  after  the  expiration  of 
the  term  of  service  for  which  they  shall  be  severally 
chosen,  this  election  shall  devolve  upon  the  Presbyteries 
respectively ;  and  the  same  right  shall  be  extended  to 
any  Presbytery  or  Presbyteries,  which  may  hereafter  be 
formed  within  its  bounds.    3.  And  whenever  any  Presby- 


THE   WESTERN  FOE.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  105 

terj  or  Presbyteries  belonging  to  other  Synod  or  Synods, 
shall  become  regularly  united  with  this  Society,  by  vote 
and  actual  contribution  to  its  funds,  every  such  Presby- 
tery shall  be  entitled,  in  like  manner,  to  the  right  of 
appointing  one  Minister  and  one  Ruling  Elder,  to  serve 
for  the  term  of  two  years,  leaving  it  to  the  Board  of 
Directors  so  to  fix  the  two  classes  as  that  the  change  for 
each  and  every  year  shall  be  as  nearly  as  possible  equal 
to  the  others ;  and  these  persons  so  appointed  shall  con- 
stitute a  Board,  to  be  styled  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  the  said 
Board  shall  meet  annually  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  on 
the  Tuesday  preceding  the  second  Thursday  in  May,  at 
3  o'clock  P.M.  and  oftener  on  the  call  of  the  President, 
at  the  request  of  the  Executive  Committee,  or  on  that  of 
any  tliree  other  members  of  the  Board.  The  election 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  made  by  ballot,  and 
in  reference  to  those  to  be  chosen  by  the  Synod,  the  rule 
shall  be,  after  the  first  election,  to  make  a  nomination  at 
least  one  day  previous  to  that  on  which  the  choice  is  to 
be  made." 

The  remaining  four  articles  of  the  Constitution  relate 
to  the  details  of  the  Society — the  choice  of  a  President, 
of  a  Vice-President,  of  honorary  Vice-Presidents  and 
honorary  Directors,  of  a  Corresponding  and  Recording 
Secretary,  of  a  Treasurer,  and  an  Executive  Committee, 
and  the  prescription  of  the  duties  of  these  officers  and 
agents  severally. 

The  Society,  when  first  organized  by  the  Synod,  con- 
sisted of  twenty-eight  directors ;  and  they  immediately 
chose  a  President,  Vice-President,  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee, consisting  of  five  clergymen  and  four  laymen, 
with  a  Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The 
Board  also,  agreeably  to  an  authority  granted  in  the 


106  PEESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

Constitution,  elected  at  the  first  meeting  fifteen  hon- 
orary Vice-Presidents  and  tlurteen  honorary  Directors. 

It  is  due  to  the  Kev.  Elisha  P.  Swift,  the  first  Corre- 
sponding Secretary  of  this  Society,  to  state,  that  its  ori- 
gin is  to  be  traced,  principally,  to  his  ardent  zeal  in  the 
missionary  cause,  and  to  his  views  of  the  importance  of 
an  institution  organized  in  the  manner  exhibited  in  the 
foregoing  documents.  He  submitted  his  ideas  to  his 
brethren  of  the  Synod,  by  whom,  after  due  deliberation, 
they  were  adopted.  He  drafted  the  Constitution  and 
wrote  the  circular  letter,  and  on  him,  under  the  direction 
and  cheerful  co-operation  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
rested  the  principal  burden  of  labor  and  efiPort  in  carry- 
ing into  effect  the  plan  of  the  Society.  He  resigned  for 
this  purpose  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  congregation,  be- 
tween whom  and  himself  a  strong  and  tender  attach- 
ment existed ;  and  devoted  all  his  time  and  faculties  to 
give  activity  and  efficiency  to  the  infant  institution. 
Destitute  of  funds,  it  threatened  for  a  short  period  to 
languish ;  but  it  soon  received  a  quickening  impulse  from 
the  liberal  donation  of  a  thousand  dollars  from  the  Hon. 
Walter  Lowrie,  the  Secretary  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  This  gift  was  made  in  a  manner  which, 
for  a  considerable  time,  left  the  doner  unknown.  It 
equalled  in  amount  the  annual  salary  of  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  and  was  appropriated  by  the  donor  to  that 
object ;  thus  freeing  him  from  all  imputation  of  seeking 
emolument  for  himself,  while  he  earnestly  solicited  pe- 
cuniary contributions  to  the  funds  of  the  Society. 
EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS.  [The  Ecv.  Elisha  P.  Swift,  D.D., 
was  born  in  Williamstown,  Mass.,  August  12,  1792.  He 
graduated  at  Williams  College  in  September,  1813,  and 
at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  after  a  full  course, 
in  September,  1816.     He  was  ordained  as  a  foreign  mis- 


THE   WESTERN   FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  107 

sionary  in  connection  with  tlie  American  Board  in  1817 ; 
but  reasons  of  health  in  the  family  prevented  his  going 
to  a  foreign  field.  He  spent  some  mouths,  however,  on 
visits  to  churches  to  promote  the  missionary  cause  in 
what  was  then  the  Western  country.  After  supplying 
a  church  in  Delaware  for  a  year,  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Second  Presbyterian  church,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where 
his  ministry  was  greatly  prospered.  He  continued  in 
this  charge  from  1819  to  March,  1833.  His  was  a  min- 
istry of  success  and  power.  He  was  endeared  to  his 
church  as  a  pastor,  yet  his  pulpit  was  his  throne. 

Soon  after  his  accepting  tlie  call  of  this  church,  and 
while  he  was  its  pastor,  he  was  appointed  as  a  member 
of  the  Synod's  Missionary  Board  of  Trust,  or  Executive 
Committee  as  it  would  now  be  called.  In  its  service  he 
was  for  some  years  an  unsalaried  secretary,  until  the 
Board  was  merged  in  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of 
Domestic  Missions.  During  these  years  he  no  doubt  be- 
came well  acquainted  with  the  principles  and  methods 
of  the  work  of  missions,  Foreign  and  Domestic,  which 
had  been  adopted  for  many  j^ears  in  the  two  Synods  of 
Virginia  and  Pittsburgh.  Their  views  were  generally 
held  in  that  part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  latter  Synod.  And  when  the  time  came  for 
organizing  a  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  the  movement 
for  this  purpose  was  made  wntli  entire  harmony  after 
counsel  with  many  leading  ministers  and  elders.  In 
other  parts  of  this  volume  particular  information  is 
given  as  to  this  important  movement.  Our  reference 
to  it  liere  is  for  two  reasons — one  general,  the  other 
personal.  In  general,  a  comparison  shows  that  the  prin- 
ciples and  methods  of  the  older  societies  and  of  the  new 
one  are  identical,  with  only  minor  changes  adapting  the 
new  society  to  its  special  work.     Personally,  all  felt  as 


108  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

did  the  writer  of  these  lines,  that  it  was  a  privilege  to 
hear  the  noble  speech  of  Dr.  Swift,  when  this  subject 
was  under  consideration  by  the  Synod.  By  a  unanimous 
vote  it  was  resolved  to  enter  upon  this  work  for  Christ 
our  Lord,  relying  on  His  Providence  and  Grace. 

At  the  request  of  his  brethren  generally,  no  less  than 
by  the  vote  of  the  Board,  Dr.  Swift  was  constrained  to 
accept  the  appointment  of  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  new  Society ;  his  church  very  reluctantly  accepted  his 
resignation.  "With  what  ability  and  success  he  fulfilled 
the  arduous  duties  of  this  office,  it  were  needless  to  re- 
late. At  some  disadvantage  from  the  want  of  early 
business  experience,  he  yet  fulfilled  the  arduous  duties  of 
this  office  with  very  great  success.  In  office  work ;  in 
meetings  of  the  Committee  and  the  Directors;  in  inter- 
views with  friends  of  the  cause,  with  missionaries  going 
forth  and  with  persons  looking  to  missionary  life ;  in 
correspondence  largely  with  missionaries  in  the  field  on 
varied  and  often  difficult  subjects ;  in  studying  mission- 
ary countries  and  people,  and  their  various  religions;  in 
visits  at  farewell  and  often  at  distant  meetings,  and  many 
preaching  services  in  churches  near  and  far;  in  editing 
the  Missionary  Chronicle  and  other  publications,  and 
preparing  the  Annual  Eeports  to  May,  1836,  inclusive; 
in  being  present  at  Presbyteries,  Synods,  and  the  General 
Assembly,— in  such  duties  as  these,  weary  days  and  often 
late  hours  at  night  were  passed,  and  the  tender  relations 
of  domestic  life — of  parents  and  young  children — were 
often  embarrassed.  Yet  it  was  a  blessed  service  in  such 
a  cause,  for  such  Christian  brethren,  for  such  a  Saviour ! 

There  came  another  call,  however,  to  a  new  church  in 
Alleghany,  which  had  among  its  members  former  par- 
ishioners and  friends.  Earnest  consultations  with  his 
co-laborers  in  the  Board  followed.     The  leadings  of 


TUE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  109 

Providence  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit  were  carefully  stud- 
ied. At  last  the  way  of  duty  seemed  to  be  plain.  The 
secretaryship  was  to  be  resigned  when  it  seemed  proba- 
ble that  a  successor  could  be  obtained,  who  would  be 
welcomed  by  the  Church.  The  call  to  the  church  was 
accepted  October  9,  1835,  but  the  duties  of  the  mission- 
ary office  were  continued  until  January,  1836.  The 
charge  of  the  church  was  held,  with  ever  affectionate 
relations,  until  his  lamented  death,  April  3,  1865. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  1865,  contains  a  sympa- 
thetic record  of  the  death  of  Drs.  William  W.  Phillips, 
George  Potts,  and  Elisha  P.  Swift,  members  of  the 
Board.  The  Foreign  Missionary,  of  May,  1865,  also 
refers  to  these  eminent  ministers  as  having  entered  into 
rest.  Its  concluding  record  of  Dr.  Swift  by  the  writer 
of  this  Note  is  here  reprinted : 

"  To  the  end  of  his  life  Dr.  Swift  was  a  most  faithful 
friend  of  this  cause  of  missions.  Often  his  eloquent 
voice  pleaded  for  its  interests  with  his  Christian  brethren, 
and  it  is  known  that  it  was  daily  aided  by  his  prayers,  in 
his  private  devotions,  with  special  particularity.  In  our 
last  interview  with  him,  several  months  before  his  de- 
parture, information  was  given  as  to  a  certain  matter  in 
one  of  our  eastern  missions— information  which  we  had 
reason  to  know  was  intended  to  be  made  use  of  in  the 
closet  and  not  in  any  public  way.  It  was  true  of  both 
our  revered  and  beloved  friends,  Dr.  Phillips  and  Dr. 
Swift,  [the  former,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  New  York,  and  President  of  the  Board  of  For- 
eign Missions  from  1837  until  his  lamented  death  in 
1865],  that  their  prayers  for  the  cause  of  missions  were 
remarkable— excelling  in  breadth,  in  proper  specifica- 
tion, in  fervor ;  they  were  never  omitted  in  the  services 


110  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

of  the  sanctuary,  and  their  impressiveness  could  easily 
be  ascribed  in  part  to  the  habitual  intercessions  of  their 
private  hours.  Our  cause  has  suffered  a  great  loss  in  the 
removal  of  these  men  of  prayer.  Eminent  as  they  were 
in  talents  and  in  position,  they  were  not  less  eminent  in 
prayer.     May  their  mantle  fall  on  their  brethren !  "J 

[On  a  former  page  a  brief  Note  was  inserted  concern- 
ing the  Eev.  E.  McCurdy,  D.D.,  for  many  years  volun- 
tary Treasurer  of  the  Pittsburgh  Synodical  Missions,  and 
one  of  its  most  efficient  Directors.  It  would  seem  suit- 
able to  insert  also  a  iN'ote  concerning  another  of  the 
Executive  officers  to  whom  the  Society  was  greatly  in- 
debted for  efficient  support,  the  Rev.  Francis  Herron, 
D.D.,  Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  Pitts- 
burgh. 

It  was  understood  that  he  felt  at  first  some  hesita- 
tion as  to  the  expediency  of  organizing  the  Society  at 
that  time,  when  the  current  expenses  "and  the  endow- 
ment of  the  "Western  Theological  Seminary  pressed  so 
heavily  on  the  churches  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
and  especially  on  the  church  under  his  pastoral  charge. 
But  he  would  not  discourage  his  brethren,  much  less 
oppose  so  great  a  work  as  this  new  movement  for  send- 
ing the  Gospel  to  the  heathen,  a  cause  with  which  he 
was  in  the  fullest  sympathy  ;  and  both  he  and  his  influ- 
ential congregation  were  most  efficient  friends  of  the 
Society.  He  was  usually  Chairman  of  its  Executive 
Committee,  as  he  had  been  also  of  its  Board  of  Trust 
in  many  former  years.  A  leading  member  of  his 
church,  the  Hon.  Harmer  Denny,  a  member  of  Con- 
gress, was  the  first  President  of  the  Society. 

Dr.  Herron  was  born  near  Carlisle,  Pa.,  June  28, 1771 ; 
graduated  at  Dickinson  College,  1794;  ordained  as 
Pastor  of  Eocky  Spring  church,  Pa.,  April  9, 1800 ;  and 


THE   WESTERN   FOE.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  Ill 

after  a  liappy  and  prospered  ministry  there,  he  accepted 
a  call  to  the  First  Church  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  June, 
1811.  This  church  was  then  small  in  the  number  of 
its  members,  in  debt,  and  greatly  discouraged.  A  low- 
tone  of  spiritual  life  characterized  many  of  its  members, 
so  that  not  even  a  prayer-meeting  was  held ;  and  the 
young  pastor  had  to  establish  a  meeting  against  the  op- 
position of  some  members  of  the  church.  Pittsburgh 
was  then  but  a  small  place.  The  church  property  was 
soon  afterwards  sold  by  the  sheriii ;  it  was  bought  by 
the  pastor,  a  part  of  its  land  sold  by  him,  efficient 
management  maintained,  and  the  property  restored  to 
the  church.  Under  his  efficient  ministrj^,  with  the 
divine  blessing,  this  church  became  one  of  the  largest 
and  strongest  in  our  denomination  long  before  its  noble 
minister  resigned  its  charge ;  and  so  it  is  to  this  day. 

Becoming  infirm,  he  resigned  his  church  in  1S19,  but 
lived  revered  among  his  people  until  his  death,  De- 
cember 6,  1860,  in  the  81st  year  of  his  age,  greatly 
mourned  over  by  all  classes  in  the  now  large  city,  and 
by  the  Church  at  large.  He  was  a  large,  manly-looking 
man,  and  he  was  as  genial  and  good  as  he  looked ;  a  pil- 
lar of  strength  for  every  good  cause,  and  greatly  blessed 
in  his  ministry.  The  writer  of  these  Notes  gladly  pays 
this  tribute  to  his  memory,  based  on  personal  knowl- 
edge gained  in  college  and  seminary  days,  and  the  ac- 
quaintance afterwards  of  many  years.  It  would  be  a 
real  pleasure  also  to  refer  in  like  manner  to  other  West- 
ern Pennsylvania  clergymen  and  laymen,  such  as  Drs. 
McMillan,  Brown,  Elliott,  Jennings,  Beatty,  Weed, 
Stockton,  Patterson,  Fairchild,  Messrs.  Tait,  McPherrin, 
Hughes,  Johnston,  Baird,  and  others  not  a  few  :  besides 
many  like-minded,  noble  men,  in  other  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, who  were  men  consecrated  to  Christ,  earnest  friends 


112  PEESBYTEETATT  MISSIONS. 

of  missions  and  of  every  good  work,  and  steadfast  in  the 

faith ;  but  the  limits  prescribed  to  these  pages  do  not 

admit  of  these  tributes.     Blessed  is  the  memory  of  such 

men!] 

FIRST  YEAR       A  fcw  extracts  from  the  life  of  the  Rev. 

OF  THE      Joseph  W.  Barr,  by  the  Corresponding  Sec- 
society's     retary  of  the  Society,  published  in  March, 

WORK.  1833,  will  give  a  general  view  of  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Society  during  the  lirst  year  of  its  existence. 
After  a  narrative  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburgh  in  the  organization  of  the  Society,  the  Secre- 
tary says : 

"  The  Board  of  Directors  then  appointed,  constituted 
immediately  after  the  rising  of  Synod,  and  chose  an 
Executive  Committee,  by  which  regular  monthly  meet- 
ings have  been  ever  since  held.  The  committee,  in 
their  first  circular,  expressed  the  determination  to  under- 
take the  establishment  of  a  mission  in  Western  Africa, 
as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit ;  and  the  subject 
was  laid  before  Societies  of  Inquiry  on  Missions,  in  the 
Theological  Seminaries  of  Princeton  and  Alleghany- 
town.  Communications  were  soon  after  received  from 
Mr.  John  B.  Pinney,  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Princeton,  and  Messrs.  John  C.  Lowrie  and  William 
Reed,  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  ofiering  to 
place  themselves  under  the  care  and  direction  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  as  mispionaries  to  the  Heathen. 
....  During  the  summer,  Mr.  Pinney,  whose  mind 
had  been  strongly  inclined  to  an  African  mission, 
became  anxious  to  have  an  early  period  designated,  at 
which  the  undertaking  might  be  expected  to  commence ; 
and  on  being  apprised  that  this  would  be  done  as  soon 
as  a  suitable  fellow-laborer  could  be  provided  for  that 
field,  he  submitted  the  solemn  question  to  the  considera- 


THE   WESTERN   FOR.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  113 

tion  of  one  who  was  known  to  liave  devoted  himself  to  the 
work,  and  who  possessed  pecuUar  qualifications  for  such 
an  undertaking;  tliis  person  was  Mr.  Joseph  W.  Barr." 

"The  ])resent  state  of  this  infant  Society,  to  which  a 
number  of  Presbyteries,  besides  those  originally  included, 
have  given  the  promise  of  their  efficient  co-operation 
during  the  past  year,  may  be,  in  part,  learned  from  the 
subjoined  statement  of  its  missionary  arrangements: 
MISSIONS  "  Since  its  organization,  the  Board  has  re- 
OF  THE  ceived  under  its  care,  seven  missionaries,  be- 
sociETY.  sides  two  or  three  assistants,  intended  for  the 
"Western  mission.  These  have  been  distributed  in  the 
following  manner: 

"1.  To  Western  Africa,  two.  Rev.  Messrs.  John  B. 
Pinney  and  Joseph  W.  Barr. 

"2.  To  Northern  India,  three.  Messrs.  John  C. 
Lowrie  and  WiUiam  Reed,  two  of  these  brethren,  are 
expected  to  sail  from  this  country  for  Calcutta  about  the 
1st  of  May. 

"  3.  To  the  Indians  west  of  tlie  Mississippi,  two.  One 
of  these  brethren  is  expected  to  proceed,  in  company 
with  some  other  person,  during  the  ensuing  summer,  to 
the  site  of  the  proposed  establishment,  and  make  prepara- 
tions for  the  reception  of  the  other  members  in  the  fol- 
lowing autumn. 

"  To  AVestern  and  eventually  Central  Africa,  this  So- 
ciety has  from  the  beginning  looked,  as  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal fields  of  its  intended  operations.  To  that  benighted 
land  it  consecrated  its  first  efforts :  and  all  the  informa- 
tion which  has  been  since  received,  has  but  tended  to 
increase  its  desire  to  draw,  in  a  special  manner,  the  at- 
tention of  American  Christians,  and  of  young  men 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  missions,  to  that  long  neglected 
and  interesting  part  of  the  globe." 


114  PEESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

Keeping  in  view  the  compendious  nature  of  this  work, 
the  several  missions  of  the  Society  now  in  contempla- 
tion will  be  noticed  in  the  order  in  which  they  were 
sent  out ;  and  the  history  of  each  will  be  continuously 
sketched  till  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  in  October, 
1837. 

MISSION  TO  From  the  above  quotation  it  appears  that 
WESTERN  Central  Africa  was  contemplated,  as  ulti- 
AFRicA.  mately  the  principal  field  in  which  this  mis- 
sion was  expected  to  operate ;  and  where  probably  its 
chief  seat  would  be  located.  In  order  to  this,  how- 
ever, it  was  necessary  that  the  Society  should  have  an 
establishment  on  the  western  coast,  to  which  its  supplies 
might  be  sent,  by  which  a  communication  might  be  kept 
up  with  the  Society  at  home,  and  where  the  missionaries 
destined  to  the  interior  might  reside  till  their  acclimation 
should  have  taken  place.  Such  were  the  original  views 
of  the  Society ;  views  which  are  not  yet  relinquished, 
notwithstanding  the  severe  trials  with  which  God,  in  His 
holy  sovereignty,  has  seen  meet  hitherto  to  exercise  the 
faith,  patience,  and  perseverance  of  His  people. 

Messrs.  John  B.  Pinney  and  Joseph  W.  Barr  were, 
as  already  stated,  the  first  missionaries  designated  to 
Africa.  They  were  both  from  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton,  and  both  made  a  voluntary  offer  of  them- 
selves for  this  hazardous  mission.  They  were  ordained 
together  October  12,  1832,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, specially  called  for  the  purpose.  Their  beloved 
professors,  Drs.  Alexander  and  Miller,  by  invitation  of 
the  Presbytery,  took  the  principal  parts  of  the  ordina- 
tion service,  which  was  numerously  attended  in  the  Sixth 
Presbyterian  cliurch,  and  pervaded  by  a  deep  solemnity. 
The  vessel  in  which  they  were  to  go  to  Liberia  was  to 
sail  from  Norfolk  in  Virginia  about  the  close  of  the 


THE   WESTERN   FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  115 

current  month.  Tliitlier,  therefore,  a  few  days  after 
their  ordination,  they  hastily  repaired,  havinf?  taken  a 
most  solemn  and  allectin<^  farewell  of  their  Philadelphia 
friends  in  a  public  meeting  called  for  the  purpose.  They 
arrived  in  Norfolk  on  the  23d  of  October,  and  found 
that  the  vessel  in  which  their  passage  was  taken  would 
not  sail  till  the  5th  of  the  following  month.  In  the  in- 
tervening days,  with  a  view  to  promote  the  interests  of 
the  mission,  Mr.  Barr  visited  Richmond  and  Peters- 
burgh.  Having  made  arrangements  in  the  latter  place 
for  a  public  missionary  meeting,  to  be  attended  by  him- 
self on  Tuesday,  he  returned  to  preach  at  Richmond 
on  the  preceding  Sabbath.  But  the  time  had  arrived  at 
which  he  was  to  preach  no  more.  A  friend  who  was 
with  him  in  his  last  hours,  wrote  and  published  an  in- 
teresting account  of  his  death,  from  which  our  limits 
•will  permit  us  to  give  only  the  following  extracts: 

"At  nine  o'clock  on  Saturday  night,  he  was  appar- 
ently in  perfect  health.  We  passed  the  evening  with 
him,  in  company  with  a  few  friends  of  missions,  who 
felt  deeply  interested  in  the  enterprise  on  which  he  was 
about  to  embark.  lie  was  slightly  indisposed,  as  he 
afterwards  stated,  when  he  retired  to  his  chamber  for 
the  night.  About  one  o'clock  he  was  taken  violently  ill 
of  cholera.  Able  physicians  were  immediately  called  in, 
and  the  usual  remedies  administered;  but  in  vain — his 
Lord  and  Master  had  called  for  him.  The  progress  of 
his  disease  was  so  rapid  as  to  baffle  the  efforts  of  medical 
skill — and  at  three  o'clock  on  Sabbath  afternoon  he  was 
released  from  his  sufferings,  and  admitted,  we  trust,  into 
the  rest  which  the  Lord  has  prepared  for  His  people. 

"  It  will  be  consolatory  to  his  distant  friends,  and  to 
the  young  ministers  who  were  recently  his  fellow  stu- 
dents, to  know  that  he  appeared  to  be  perfectly  resigned 


116  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

to  this  mysterious  stroke  of  Providence.  Though  his 
heart,  filled  with  compassion  for  the  perishing,  was  fixed 
on  the  work  of  missions  in  Africa,  to  which  he  had  dedi- 
cated his  life — vet  he  was  willing;  to  leave  it  and  to  die. 
He  discovered  no  alarm  at  the  approach  and  near  pros- 
pect of  death.  The  summons,  though  sudden  and  un- 
expected, did  not  find  him  unprepared.  On  being  asked 
by  the  writer  concerning  the  state  of  his  mind,  he  ex- 
pressed wnth  earnestness  his  confidence  in  God  and  sub- 
mission to  His  will,  adding:  'the  blood  of  Christ 
cleanseth  from  all  sin.'  Here  rested  his  hope,  on  the 
Rock  of  Ages — and  it  sustained  him  in  the  hour  of  trial. 
He  repeatedly  expressed  the  same  unshaken  trust  in  the 
Lord,  to  other  Christian  brethren,  who  attended  him 
during  his  short  illness.  Death  to  him  was  a  vanquished 
enemy.  In  the  near  view  of  eternity  he  could  pray 
in  the  language  of  the  apostle,  'Even  so,  come,  Lord 
Jesus.' " 

Mr.  Barr  was  a  youth  of  great  promise,  and  seldom 
has  a  death  been  more  lamented  than  his.  It  left  his 
beloved  missionary  brother,  Mr.  Pinney,  without  a  com- 
panion for  the  African  Mission,  and  rendered  it  ques- 
tionable whether  it  were  expedient,  or  even  lawful,  for 
him  to  go  alone  on  the  perilous  enterprise  in  which  both 
had  embarked.  Bat  having  waited  till  the  month  of 
January  following,  without  any  one  offering  to  accom- 
pany him,  and  all  his  arrangements  for  departure  being 
made,  his  zeal  in  the  cause  in  which  he  had  engaged 
determined  him  to  embrace  an  opportunity  which  offered, 
and  to  sail  for  Liberia — in  hope  that  his  unaided  efforts 
might  prove  an  encouragement  and  prepare  the  way  for 
others  to  follow  him.  After  a  prosperous  voyage  he 
arrived  at  Monrovia  on  the  16th  of  February,  1833.  He 
remained  in  Africa  about  four  months ;  and  during  this 


THE  WESTEEN   FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  117 

period  he  made  an  exploring  excursion  into  the  interior, 
as  far  as  a  native  prince,  through  whose  country  he  had 
to  pass,  would  permit  him  to  proceed.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  rainy  season,  he  found  that  his  neces- 
sary inactivity  in  Africa  during  its  continuance,  would 
be  more  expensive  than  a  voyage  home ;  where  he  might 
be  active  in  preaching,  and  in  endeavoring  to  obtain  as- 
sociates in  his  missionary  labors.  He  arrived  in  Phila- 
delphia in  the  month  of  July,  and  his  motives  for  re- 
turn were  approved  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Board.  By  information  received  from  him,  the  Com- 
mittee were  enabled  to  select  two  stations,  whose  relative 
situations,  both  as  to  the  colony  and  the  interior  nations, 
would  afford  great  facility  for  disseminating  the  Gospel 
in  Africa. 

A  few  days  before  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Pinney,  Messrs. 
John  Cloud  and  Matthew  Laird,  who  had  been  pre- 
viously received  under  the  care  of  the  Board,  as  candi- 
dates for  the  missionary  service,  were  designated  as  a 
reinforcement  to  the  African  Mission.  After  spending 
some  time  in  visiting  the  churches,  these  missionaries, 
together  with  Mrs.  Laird  and  Mr.  James  Temple,  a 
young  man  of  color  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  and  who  had  been  received  as  an  assistant, 
were  regularly  organized  as  a  missionary  body  in  New 
York  in  October ;  and  sailed  from  Korfolk  for  Liberia 
on  the  Gth  of  November  following.  About  the  same 
time,  missionaries  from  two  other  societies  in  our  coun- 
try, were  appointed  to  repair  to  the  western  coast  of  that 
benighted  continent.  Mr.  Pinney,  shortly  before  his 
embarkation  with  the  other  missionaries,  received  from 
the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society,  the  appointment  of  temporary  Agent  and  Gov- 
ernor of  Liberia ;  and  after  consulting  with  the  Corre- 


118  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

sponding  Secretary  and  other  friends  of  the  Society,  it 
was  judged  best  that  he  should  consent  to  act  in  that 
capacity,  till  a  permanent  agent  could  be  obtained.  He 
accordingly  performed  the  duties  of  colonial  agent  for 
a  time,  expressing  his  earnest  hope  that  other  arrange- 
ments might  soon  be  made  by  the  Colonization  Society. 

The  ship  Jujpiter^  in  which  the  missionaries  em  barked  > 
arrived  at  Monrovia  on  the  31st  of  December  (1833), 
after  a  passage  of  fifty-six  days.  The  missionaries  were 
enabled,  soon  after  their  arrival,  to  rent  a  suitable  tene- 
ment for  their  accommodation,  during  their  stay  in 
Monrovia,  and  all  the  members  of  the  mission  soon  ex- 
perienced, in  succession,  the  attacks  of  the  African  fever. 
In  most  instances,  the  fever  in  the  past  winter  had  been 
uncommonly  mild,  and  much  fewer  cases  of  mortality 
had  occurred  among  the  emigrants  than  in  former  years ; 
from  which  it  was  hoped  that  the  missionaries,  most  of 
whom  had  experienced  more  than  one  return  of  the  dis- 
ease, would  have  little  to  fear  from  any  future  attack. 
But  these  cheering  prospects  of  a  safe  and  easy  acclima- 
tion, and  the  expectation  of  an  uncommonly  healthy 
season  in  the  colony,  were  but  the  precursors  of  a  mor- 
tality which  thinned  the  ranks  of  the  emigrants,  while 
it  almost  entirely  extinguished  the  hope  of  the  two  im- 
portant missions  which  had  lately  arrived. 

Mr.  Cloud,  unwilling  to  lose  time  by  unnecessary  de- 
lay, and  anxious  to  ascertain  the  prospects  at  Cape 
Mount,  a  place  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  up  the  coast, 
before  the  arrangements  of  the  mission  were  finally 
made,  resolved  (too  soon  it  would  appear  after  his  re- 
covery) to  embrace  an  opportunity  then  offering,  to 
embark  on  board  a  vessel  going  up  the  coast.  The  heat 
of  the  weather — the  detention  of  the  coaster  by  adverse 
winds — an  incautious  exposure  to  night  air,  and  the  yet 


THE  WESTERN  FOE.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  119 

debilitated  state  of  his  health,  brought  on  an  early  re- 
lapse, which,  in  the  absence  of  needful  medicines,  of 
even  a  tolerably  comfortable  place  in  sickness,  or  a  kind 
friend  to  attend  him,  soon  prepared  the  way  for  cholera 
morbus,  and  the  transition  of  this  to  a  malignant  dysen- 
tery. When  the  vessel  returned  to  Monrovia,  on  the  8th 
of  April,  after  an  absence  of  ten  days,  he  was  found  un- 
able to  walk  or  stand,  and  his  physician  soon  after  pro- 
nounced it  impossible  to  arrest  his  malady.  During  the 
few  days  of  his  survival,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laird,  with  a 
kindness  and  solicitude  which  nothing  could  surpass, 
waited  night  and  day  around  the  bed  of  their  beloved 
associate;  and  he  had  no  sooner  expired  than  it  was 
found  that  the  fatal  malady  had  transferred  itself  with 
undiminished  violence  to  them.  Mr.  Laird  was  first  at- 
tacked, and  his  wife,  though  a  woman  of  no  ordinary 
faith  and  fortitude,  sunk  before  the  prospect  of  another 
victim,  so  soon  to  be  made  in  the  person  of  her  husband. 
She  expired  on  the  3d  of  May  ;  and  on  the  day  follow- 
ing, her  husband  closed  his  eyes  in  death. 

When  it  was  known  among  the  native  tribes  around 
Monrovia,  that  the  voice  of  those  kind  and  devoted 
friends,  who  had  come  to  them  with  the  words  of  eternal 
life,  was  to  be  heard  no  more,  they  are  said  to  have  ex- 
hibited a  regret  as  solemn  and  striking  as  it  appeared  to 
be  sincere;  and  who,  that  considers  how  often  the  light 
of  hope  for  this  unfortunate  people  has  but  reached  the 
shores  of  Africa,  and  then  died  away,  can  avoid  a  heart- 
felt sympathy  in  these  touching  expressions  of  a  con- 
scious bereavement?  Of  these  three  courageous  and 
devoted  servants  of  Christ,  this  is  not  the  place  to  speak 
at  large.  All  that  can  be  added  is,  that  they  carried 
with  them  from  their  native  shores  the  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  them,  and  entered  upon  their  perilous  undertak- 


120  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

ing  with  great  apparent  desire  to  live  and  suffer  for  the 
good  of  the  heathen ;  and  that  thej  met  the  early  and 
beclouded  end  of  their  enterprise,  in  the  possession  of  a 
calm  and  cheerful  anticipation  of  immortal  felicity. 

Soon  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Laird,  Mr,  Temple  with- 
drew from  the  mission  and  returned  to  the  LTnited  States; 
while  Mr.  Pinney,  temporarily  fulfilling  the  duties  of 
Colonial  Agent,  and  still  resolving  to  resume  and  pros- 
ecute the  missionary  work,  remained  at  his  post  amidst 
the  most  appalling  scenes  of  dispersion  and  death,  among 
those  who  had  accompanied  him  on  his  return  to  Africa. 
After  having  conferred  important  good  upon  the  colony 
by  the  judicious  fulfilment  of  the  duties  of  Colonial 
Agent,  he  retired  from  that  office  and  resumed  his  mis- 
sionary labors.  In  the  September  following,  he  was 
joined  by  Mr.  J.  F.  C.  Finley,  who  had  repaired  to  Li- 
beria to  become  a  superintendent  and  teacher  of  native 
schools ;  and  they  soon  after  proceeded  to  erect  a  com- 
fortable mission-house  at  Millsburgh,  and  open  a  small 
farm  for  the  use  of  the  mission — on  which  a  supply  of 
coffee,  lime,  grove,  and  orange  trees,  and  also  of  cassada, 
sweet  potatoes,  plantain,  and  banana  were  planted. 
Shortly  after,  however,  these  two  brethren,  exhausted 
by  disease,  and  no  longer  able  to  prosecute  their  labors, 
embarked  for  the  United  States ;  having  suspended  all 
further  efforts  for  the  present,  and  left  the  mission 
premises  and  property  in  Millsburgh,  in  trust,  with  the 
Baptist  missionaries,  by  whom  the  house  has  since  been 
occupied. 

From  the  departure  from  Africa  of  Messrs.  Pinney 
and  Finley,  in  an  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1835,  till 
the  month  of  December  following,  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  was  destitute  of  a  single  African  mis- 
sionary.    Mr.  Pinney,  indeed,  was  still  living,  and  still 


THE  WESTERN   FOR.    MISS.   SOCIETY.  121 

expressing  his  willingness,  should  his  life  be  spared  and 
his  health  restored,  to  return  to  the  field  of  his  painful 
and  hazardous  labors.  But  his  constitution  was  so  shat- 
tered that  his  ultimate  restoration,  to  such  a  degree  of 
firmness  as  to  warrant  the  resumption  of  his  former  sit- 
uation, was  exceedingly  problematical ;  and  it  may  here 
be  added,  that  although  his  health  is  considerably  im- 
proved, it  is  still  questionable  whether  he  ought  ever 
again  to  risk  an  exposure  to  a  climate  which  repeated 
trials  have  demonstrated  that  he  cannot  encounter,  with- 
out the  most  imminent  peril  of  his  life  and  usefulness. 

In  the  autumn  of  1835,  Mr.  Ephraim  Titler,  a  colored 
man,  who  had  resided  for  some  time  in  Liberia,  and 
who,  with  his  wife,  had  been  employed,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  Mr.  Pinney,  in  teaching  a  school  of  native  Afri- 
cans near  the  Junk  River,  was  received  as  a  missionary 
by  the  Western  Board.  He  had  previously  spent  nearly  a 
year  in  the  United  States,  employing  as  much  time  as 
he  could  command  in  acquiring  the  knowledge  which 
might  qualify  him  to  receive  license  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel. He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
with  an  express  reference  to  his  return  as  a  missionary 
to  Africa,  in  the  month  of  September,  1836.  He  sailed 
from  Wilmington,  North  CaroHna,  on  the  31st  of  De- 
cember following,  in  a  vessel  chartered  by  the  American 
Colonization  Society,  with  a  number  of  emigrants  to 
Liberia,  and  arrived  in  safety  at  Monrovia  in  the  follow- 
ing February.  He  w^as  instructed  to  commence  his  la- 
bors at  Boblee,  a  station  selected  by  Mr.  Pinney  as  hav- 
ing every  facility  of  access  to  the  natives,  and  owing  to 
its  elevated  situation,  affording  the  best  prospect  of 
health.  He  has  located  himself  at  that  place,  agreeably 
to  his  instructions,  and  according  to  communications 
received  from  him,  with  fair  prospects  of  success. 


122  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

In  closing  the  gloomy  account  of  this  African  Mission, 
it  is  believed  that  particular  attention  is  due  to  what  is 
said  on  the  subject  in  the  fifth  and  last  report  of  the 
"Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  made  in  May, 
1837.     It  is  as  follows : 

"  It  is  the  intention  of  the  Executive  Committee,  as 
fast  as  they  can  procure  suitable  and  educated  colored 
men,  to  strengthen  and  enlarge  this  mission.     The  em- 
ployment of  colored  men,  for  building  up  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom  in  Africa,  the  Committee  now  believe,  has  not 
been  sufficiently  attended  to  by  the  churches.     Their 
own  most  painful  experience,  in  the  loss  of  their  first 
missionaries;  the  lamentable  loss  of  lives,  among  the 
missionaries  of  other  societies,  and  particularly  of  that 
noble  institution,  the  Church  of  England  Missionary 
Society,  whose  persevering  and  untiring  efiorts  in  behalf 
of  Western  Africa  exceed  all  others,  have  brought  the 
subject  of  some  other  agency  strongly  before  the  Com- 
mittee.   Of  their  own  missionaries  sent  to  this  field,  but 
one  survived,  and  he  was  forced  to  return  in  feeble 
health ;  and  of  the  German  Mission  to  Liberia,  all  died 
or  returned.     The  number  of  missionaries  and  teachers 
sent  to  Sierra  Leone  by  the  Church  of  England  Mis- 
sionary Society,  including  chaplains  sent  by  the  govern- 
ment, from    1812   to   1830,  was   forty-four   men  and 
thirty-five  women.     The  aggregate  of  time  all  these 
lived  in  that  colony  was  208  years ;  giving  as  an  average 
two  and  one-half  years  to  each  ;  and  more  or  less  of  that 
period  was  a  time  of  severe  sickness.     A  few  returned 
home,  but  even  then  their  labors  were  equally  lost  to  the 
mission.     The  average  of  two  and  one-half  years,  as  the 
life  of  a  missionary,  is  a  very  painful  subject  of  con- 
templation; but  another  view  is  even  more  so.      Of 
these  seventy-nine  devoted  men  and  women,  five  only 


THE   WESTEKN   FOR.    MISS.   SOCIETY.  123 

lived  from  twelve  to  seventeen  years — ten  from  five  to 
eight  years — thirteen  from  two  to  three  years,  and  forty- 
fom*  died  the  first  year.  How  important  for  every  Mis- 
sionary Society  to  profit  by  such  painful  and  distressing 
experience  of  their  own  and  sister  institutions, 

"JMow  in  the  providence  of  God,  an  agency  every 
way  suited  for  the  wants  of  Africa  exists  among  us,  and 
in  the  bosom  of  the  Church.  The  constitution  of  the 
colored  men  of  the  Southern  States  has  nothing  to  ap- 
prehend from  the  climate  of  Africa.  If  the  friends  of 
our  Society  at  the  South  will  select  pious,  suitable  men, 
it  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  to  have  them 
brought  to  the  North,  and  see  that  they  are  properly 
educated.  The  result  of  this  course,  in  a  few  years, 
would  be  a  full  supply  of  pious,  educated,  and  qualified 
missionaries  for  this  long  discouraging  field  ;  and  with 
thre  blessing  of  God,  Africa  'redeemed,  regenerated, 
and  disenthralled,'  would  stretch  forth  her  hand  to  Him. 
TV  hat  Christian  heart  would  not  rejoice  to  see  degraded, 
perishing,  bleeding  Africa,  a  nation  scattered  and  peeled, 
for  centuries  the  prey  of  the  man-stealer  and  the  mur- 
derer, rising  from  her  long  desolations,  and  rejoicing  in 
the  knowledge  of  redeeming  love. 

"Xo  missionary  society  in  the  United  States  can 
bring  this  agency  into  action,  with  more  advantages  than 
the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church ;  and  the  Committee  would  most  earnestly  en- 
treat their  friends,  and  especially  the  pastors  and  elders 
of  the  churches,  to  assist  them  in  carrying  into  efficient 
operation,  the  very  important  principles  here  suggested." 
WEST  [Preceding  pages  contain  the  views 

CENTRAL  AFRICA,   of  the  first  Secretary  of  the  Western 
VIA  LIBERIA.       Foreign  Missionary  Society,  which  show 
that  the  mission  to  Africa  had  as  its  chief  field  the  cen- 


124  PEESBTTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

tral  region  of  that  dark  land.  Liberia  seemed  to  be  the 
door  of  entrance  to  this  immense  region  and  its  vast 
population.  Notwithstanding  the  distressing  bereave- 
ments at  first,  the  faith  of  the  Church  did  not  fail.  The 
second  Secretary  called  special  attention  to  this  mission 
and  particularly  to  the  colored  people  of  our  own  coun- 
try, as  eventually  to  furnish  laborers  for  this  interior 
field  in  the  land  of  their  forefathers.  Both  of  these 
references  to  the  African  Mission  were  correct  and  of 
great  moment.  They  have  not  yet  been  verified,  to  the 
degree  then  anticipated ;  but  they  will  be,  if  the  faith 
of  the  Church  still  fail  not. 

Two  serious  hindrances  have  stood  in  the  way.     One 
was  and  still  is  the  extremely  malarious  coast  region  of 
the  country,  extending  inland  fiom  fifty  to  a  hundred 
miles,   in  which   a   large  part   of  Liberia  is   situated. 
The  Americo- Africans,  mostly  very  poor,  settled  in  this 
coast  country,  of  which  Monrovia  is  the  chief  town,  aud 
the  capital  of  the  Republic.     The  great  discouragement 
of  white  men  as  missionaries,  from  which  later  experi- 
ence shows  that  colored  men  have  not   been  exempt 
though  less  liable  thereto,  has  been  the  injurious  climate. 
It  proved  to  be  fatal  to  devoted  men  and  women  after 
but  short  periods  of  service,  or  compelled  them  to  with- 
draw from  their  work  there,  as  already  shown.     They 
did  not  lose  their  reward,  assuredly  ;  the  imperfect  labors 
of  missionaries  in  Liberia  have  not  been  in  vain.     Ex- 
perience has  led  to  greater  care  in  not  sending  men  ill 
adapted  to  the  climate,  and  in  their  using  proper  pre- 
cautions against  its  injurious  influence.     The  existing 
Americo-Africans,  now  about  20,000,  are  in  some  degree 
acclimated ;  and  among  them  are  children  and  youths  of 
both  sexes,  who  greatly  need  better  opportunities  of 
training— not  at  all  by  sending  them  to  America  for  this 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  125 

purpose,  but  by  providing  in  tlieir  own  land  better  means 
and  opportunities  of  industrial  education.  This  subject 
was  referred  to  in  the  Annual  Reports  of  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  for  1890,  page  12,  and  1891,  page  23. 

The  second  hindrance  to  missionary  labors  in  the  in- 
terior, long  insuperable,  has  to  a  large  degree  passed 
away.  The  border  tribes,  back  of  the  coast,  refused  to 
allow  foreigners  to  penetrate  beyond  tlieir  own  bound- 
aries. This  was  the  case  for  many  hundreds  of  miles 
along  the  west  coast,  even  as  far  down  as  to  the  river 
Congo.  But  the  time  of  exclusion  from  the  interior  of 
Africa  is  passing  away,  indeed  is  virtually  at  an  end. 
As  an  example,  Boporo,  a  considerable  town  and  district, 
about  a  hundred  miles  inland  from  Monrovia,  in  an  ele- 
vated and  healthy  country,  is  a  place  to  which  in  former 
years  missionaries  could  not  be  sent,  but  where  they 
would  now  be  welcomed.  Indeed  a  missionary  might 
have  been  stationed  here  several  years  ago,  and  the  Board 
adopted  measures  to  occupy  this  post.  A  talented, 
measurably  well  educated,  colored  man,  then  in  the 
ranks  as  a  missionary,  was  sent  by  the  Board  to  Boporo. 
He  was  kindly  received,  and  his  report  showed  that  the 
way  was  in  a  good  degree  prepared  for  missionary  work. 
Bat  his  subsequent  course  made  it  plain  that  to  some 
other  laborer  must  be  reserved  the  privilege  of  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  permanently  in  that  place. 

This  Mission  to  Central  Africa  via  Liberia  must  not 
be  abandoned.  It  was  the  first  begun,  abroad,  by  our 
Church  under  its  present  system.  It  was  sorely  tried 
by  early  bereavements.  Its  conditions  are  now  better 
understood.  Its  preliminary  work  has  not  been  in  vain. 
Its  connection  with  the  seven  milh'ons  of  Africo-A  meri- 
cans  in  our  own  country,  and  its  influence  on  their 
religious  and  missionary  destiny,  must  not  be  forgotten. 


126  PEESBYTEEIAN   MISSIOI^S. 

It  may  be  of  immeasurable  importance  to  tbem.  The 
Liberia  Mission  Las  been  the  most  discouraging  foreign 
work  of  our  Church.  Shall  it  not  yet  become  one  of 
the  most  blessed  ?] 

MISSION  This  mission  was  projected,  as  has  been 

TO  NOKTHEKN  sceu,  at  the  very  origin  of  the  Western 

INDIA.  Foreign  Missionary  Society ;  and  Messrs. 
John  C.  Lowrie  and  William  Reed  were  the  first  mis- 
sionaries that  offered  their  services  to  the  Society,  and 
they  were  received  under  its  care  January  16, 1832.  No 
preference  for  any  field  was  stated  by  them  ;  though  the 
sendino;  a  mission  to  India  or  the  East  was  then  under 
the  Society's  consideration.  The  want  of  funds  led  to 
some  delay,  and  they  were  engaged  for  several  months 
after  their  licensure  in  visiting  churches  and  meetings 
of  Presbyteries  and  Synods  for  the  cause  of  missions, 
one  of  them  also  spending  several  months  at  the  Prince- 
ton Theological  Seminary.  The  African  Mission  was 
sooner  ready  to  be  organized  and  sent  forward  to  its 
field  of  operation. 

In  narrating  the  transactions  relative  to  this  and  the 
remaining  missions  of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  the  best  general  view  may  be  presented,  by  ab- 
breviating the  authentic  statements  contained  in  .the 
several  annual  reports  of  the  Society  itself.  This  plan 
will  accordingly  be  pursued,  with  only  such  occasional 
departures  from  it  as  may  be  found  indispensable.  The 
following  quotation  is  taken  from  the  second  Annual 
Peport,  read  and  adopted  at  the  annual  meeting,  May  6, 
1834: 

"  The  last  Annual  Peport  stated,  that  the  Pev.  Messrs. 
William  Peed  and  John  C.  Lowrie,  with  their  wives, 
were  expected  to  leave  this  country  in  a  few  weeks 
afterwards,  to  commence  their  contemplated  mission  in 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  127 

Hindustan.  Arrangements  were  made  for  their  embark- 
ation in  the  ship  Star,  of  the  port  of  Philadelphia,  in  May 
last.  Never,  it  is  believed,  was  the  mind  of  the  Chris- 
tian public  in  that  citj,  more  deeply  interested  in  the 
foreign  missionary  enterprise,  than  during  the  presence 
of  the  mission  there,  and  the  religious  exercises  which 
were  connected  with  their  final  departure  from  it.  The 
closing  meeting  will  long  be  remembered  by  many,  as 
well  from  the  peculiar  circumstances  which  tended  to  give 
effect  to  it,  as  from  the  divine  influence  which  seemed 

to  pervade  it This  little  band  finally  bid  adieu 

to  their  native  land,  and  the  ship  Star  put  to  sea  on  the 
30th  of  May,  1833,  and  arrived  at  Madeira  on  the  24th 
of  June  following.  The  temporary  abode  of  the  mis- 
sionaries at  that  fertile  and  lovely  spot  in  the  ocean, 
tended  not  only  to  mitigate  the  fatigues  of  a  long  sea 
voyage,  but  somewhat  to  recruit  the  strength  of  Mrs. 
Lowrie,  whose  health  had  begun  to  be  so  far  impaired, 
during  the  last  few  weeks  of  her  residence  in  this  coun- 
try, as  to  threaten  a  confirmed  pulmonary  affection. 
The  voyage  was  resumed  on  the  15th  of  July,  and  the 
Star  arrived  in  the  port  of  Calcutta  on  the  15th  of  Oc- 
tober. The  change  of  air  incident  to  her  passage  into 
the  southern  hemisphere,  and  severe  gales  in  doubling 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  appeared,  the  Committee  re- 
gret to  state,  to  confirm  all  the  fears  which  had  been  en- 
tertained  as  to  the  character  of  Mrs.  Lowrie's  illness, 
and  from  that  period  she  began  gradually  to  become  so 
feeble,  that  before  the  arrival  of  the  Star  in  port,  all 
hopes  of  her  recovery  were  at  an  end. 

"  The  missionaries  were  received  at  Calcutta  with  every 
mark  of  respect  and  affection,  and  to  the  Kev.  William 
H.  Pearce  especially,  will  they  and  their  friends  in  this 
country  feel  long  and  deeply  indebted  for  the  hospitahty 


128  PRESBYTEKIAN  MISSIONS. 

and  kindness  wliich  were  shown  them.    They  were  im- 
mediately taken  into  his  family,  and  amidst  the  assidu- 
ous  and  affectionate  attentions  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearce 
and  their  friends,  Mrs.  Lowrie  hngered  until  the  21st 
of  November,  when  she  expired ;  and  from  his  hospi- 
table mansion  her  mortal  remains  were  borne  to  the 
house  appointed  for  all  living.     To  her  deeply  afflicted 
husband,  thus  early  bereaved  in  a  strange  land,  to  the 
other  two  surviving  members,  to  the  Society  and  the 
cause  of  missions  in  India,  the  death  of  this  amiable,  in- 
telligent, and  devoted  woman  must  be  regarded  as  a  very 
severe  affliction.     Her  desires  to  devote  herself  to  the 
spiritual  good  of  the  heathen  were  fervent,  and  her  qual- 
ifications for  the  station  were,  to  human  view,  uncom- 
mon ;  but  He,  for  whose  glory  she  left  her  native  land, 
was  pleased,  doubtless  for  wise  reasons,  to  disappoint  her 
earthly  hopes,  and  to  require  her  associates,  a  few  short 
weeks  after  their  arrival,  to  consign  her  to  the  dust,  there 
to   proclaim,  as  she  sleeps  in  Jesus  on  India's  distant 
shores,  the  compassion  of  American  Christians  for  its 
millions  of  degraded  idolaters ;  and  to  invite  others  from 
her  native  land  to  come  and  prosecute  the  noble  under- 
taking in  which  she  fell. 

"The   Committee  were  led,  from   the  information 
which  they  had  previously   obtained,  to   direct  these 
brethren  to  seek  some  eligible  position  in  the  northern 
provinces  of  Hindustan  as  the  field  of  their  labors;  but 
they  were  authorized  to  make  a  different  selection  if,  on 
arriving  in  India  and  consulting  with  the  friends  of  mis- 
sions at  Calcutta,  it  should  be  found  expedient  to  do  so." 
[Other  parts  of  the  country  were  brought  to  their  at- 
tention, particularly  the  district  of   Bundelkhund,  not 
far  south  and  west  from  Allahabad,  containing  a  popula- 
tion of  about  three  milHons,  and  other  millions  in  neigh- 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  129 

boring  districts.  Tlie  people  are  mostly  Hindus,  but  not 
60  much  under  the  influence  of  the  higher  castes,  "  hard 
and  fast,"  as  in  the  northwest.  They  live  not  more  than 
half  as  far  from  Calcutta  as  the  people  of  the  Punjab. 
Not  much  could  be  learned  about  them  in  those  days, 
but  their  part  of  the  country  was  said  to  be  subject  to 
fever  and  ague ;  now  considered  an  erroneous  impres- 
sion. The  reason  for  this  2^ote  is,  that  this  district  has 
not  enjoyed  more  than  transient  visits  of  missionaries;  it 
is  still  unoccupied  territory,  after  so  many  years.  The 
lately  formed  station  of  Jhansi  is  on  its  northern  bor- 
ders, accessible  by  railway.] 

"  After  mature  deliberation,  and  taking  the  advice  of 
many  judicious  and  well-informed  counsellors,  they 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  original  designation  of 
the  Committee  was  decidedly  the  best,  varying  from  it 
only  in  the  selection  of  an  adjoining  province,  some- 
what further  to  the  northwest,  and  inhabited  by  a  peo- 
ple less  bigoted  in  their  attachment  to  Paganism.  Be- 
sides this  feature  in  the  religious  character  of  the  people 
— their  docility  and  desire  to  become  acquainted  with 
the  English  language — the  comparative  healthfulness  of 
that  part  of  India— its  entire  destitution  of  missionary 
instruction — and  its  proximity  to,  and  commercial  inter- 
course with,  Afghanistan,  Cashmere,  and  Thibet,  exten- 
sive and  populous  regions  as  yet  entirely  unoccupied,  are 
all  considerations  of  importance,  and  going  to  show  the 
propriety  of  the  selection. 

"  Lcdiana  and  Ambala,  which  have  been  mentioned 
as  the  two  best  positions,  are,  both  of  them,  distant 
nearly  twelve  hundred  miles  from  Calcutta,  and  almost 
as  many  from  Bombay ;  but  as  measures  are  now  in 
progress  to  open  the  navigation  of  the  Indus  and  its 
tributaries,    and   as   Lodiana   stands   on   the    navigable 


130  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

waters  of  the  Sutledge,  one  of  its  principal  branches, 
and  as  there  is  now  a  plan  on  foot  for  a  steam  commu- 
nication from  Bombay  to  England,  through  the  Mediter- 
ranean and  the  Eed  Sea,  this  part  of  India,  and  espe- 
cially Lodiana,  may  eventually  become  of  more  easy  and 
frequent  access  to  us  than  Calcutta  itself, 

"  Of  the  climate,  and  government,  and  inhabitants  of 
the  province  of  Lahore,  it  is  stated  that  it  consists  of  two 
parts :  the  one  of  which  is  the  mountainous  tract  in  the 
northeast,  stretching  south  and  east  from  Cashmere  ;  and 
the  other  comprising  the  low  and  flat  regions  bounded 
on  the  south  by  the  Sutledge,  called  the  Punjab.  The 
former  has  a  climate  much  resembling  that  of  middle 
Europe,  but  is  thinly  peopled  in  comparison  to  the  other, 
which  is  by  far  the  most  productive,  though  less  salu- 
brious. It  comprises  a  territory  of  seventy  thousand 
square  miles,  and  a  population  of  several  milhons,  and  is 
said  to  contain  many  fine  villages  and  some  large  towns ; 
but  those  of  the  latter,  with  the  exception  of  Amritsar, 
the  holy  city  of  the  Sikhs,  are  in  a  declining  condition. 
Lahore  is  under  the  government  of  a  native  ruler  by 
the  name  of  Runjeet  Singh,  formerly  one  of  the  most 
formidable  enemies  of  the  Anglo-Indian  government, 
but  now  on  terms  of  friendship  with  it, 

"  The  political  changes  which  have  recently  taken  place 
in  respect  to  India,  the  increasing  desire  of  persons  of 
distinction  among  the  natives  to  give  their  children  an 
English  education,  and  the  disposition  of  the  constituted 
authorities  to  encourage  the  settlement  of  educated  and 
intelligent  missionaries  in  all  parts  of  that  country,  are  to 
be  regarded  as  truly  auspicious  circumstances. 

"The  brethren  readily  obtained  permission  of  the 
Governor-General  of  India  to  reside  in  the  province 
which  they  had  selected ;  but  as  the  season  least  favor- 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  131 

able  for  making  the  journey  was  about,  to  commence, 
and  as  thej  could  spend  the  intervening  time  profitably 
in  the  study  of  the  language,  they  had  concluded,  on 
consultation  with  their  friends  in  Calcutta,  to  remain  in 
the  vicinity  of  that  city  until  June  next." 
IK  CALCUTTA.     [It  was  uot  the  purpose  of  the  missionaries 
to  make  any  long  stay  in  Calcutta ;  but  the  deeply  sorrow- 
ful illness  and  bereavement,  referred  to  on  preceding 
pages,  caused  considerable  detention.    Afterwards  it  was 
fully  learned  that  the  best  time  for  beginning  the  1,000 
miles  of  the  voyage  on  the  Ganges  was  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  rainy  season,  several  months  later. 
This  unexpected  delay  involved  little  if  any  disadvantage 
in  learning  the  Hindustani  language ;  many  people  from 
the  up-country  provinces  were  living  in  that  city.     But 
other  things  of  importance  had  to  be  studied  by  new 
missionaries  of   a  Society  itself  new.     Climatic  condi- 
tions   affecting  health;    methods   of    business;    social 
usages  of  natives  and  foreigners ;  the  religious  systems 
of  the  Hindus  as  exemplified  in  daily  Hfe— all  required 
practical  attention.     The  work  of  missions,  moreover,  in 
its  varied  methods,  as  conducted  by  several  Christian  de- 
nominations and  about  twenty  missionaries,  called  for 
careful  and  thoughtful  study.     It  is  well  therefore  to 
introduce  a  few  notices  of  missionary  topics  suggested 
by  this  temporary  abode  in  the  capital  city.     And  in 
connection  therewith  reference  may  be  made  to  a  book 
published  in  1850—"  Two  Years  in  Upper  India."     It 
gives  information,  partly  personal,  largely  general,  con- 
cerning what  was  expected  to  be  the  life  work  of  the 
writer,  but  what  proved  to  be  chiefly  the  pioneer  work 
of  the  mission.     The  Notes  of  the  present  book  may  be 
viewed  as  suggested  by  or  connected  with  the  interests 
of  the  Lodiana  Mission. 


132  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

MISSIONARIES  Among  the  missionaries  and  other  gentle- 
AND  OTHER  Hion,  then  in  Calcutta,  or  its  immediate  vi- 
FRiENDs.  cinity,  were  men  of  eminent  ability  and 
scholarship,  whose  counsels  were  of  great  service  to  the 
new  missionaries.  Some  of  them  had  lived  many  years 
in  India,  and  all  of  them  were  held  in  esteem  for  their 
Christian  character.  Such  men  as  Drs.  Carey  and 
Marshman ;  Archdeacon  Corrie,  afterwards  Bishop  of 
Madras,  Henry  Martyn's  friend,  not  in  missionary  ranks, 
but  of  a  devoted  missionary  spirit;  Drs.  Yates  and 
Duff;  Messrs.  Pearce,  Lacroix,  Mackey,  Ewart,  Ellis, 
Mather,  and  others;  besides  the  Scotch  chaplain,  Dr. 
Charles,  and  the  Evangelical  Bishop,  Dr.  Wilson  ;  Col. 
Dunlop,  an  elder  in  the  Scotch  church ;  and  Mr.  after- 
wards Sir  Charles  Trevelyan,  one  of  the  secretaries  of 
the  Government.  The  revered  Archdeacon,  Col.  Dun- 
lop, and  Mr.  Trevelyan  had  been  stationed  for  several 
years  in  the  northwestern  provinces,  and  they  were  well 
acquainted  with  that  part  of  the  country  and  its  people. 
The  information  received  from  them,  most  kindly  given, 
was  invaluable.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  secretary,  one 
of  the  missionaries  and  himself  spent  a  day  at  Barrack- 
pore,  and  were  invited  to  dine  at  the  palace.  The  Gov- 
ernor-General was  on  a  visit  to  a  distant  part  of  the 
country,  but  Lady  Bentinck  was  very  kind  in  her  recep- 
tion of  her  guests,  and  made  a  most  pleasing  impression 
of  herself  and  of  her  interest  in  the  Christian  welfare 
of  the  people  of  India.  Her  example  and  that  of  Lord 
Cavendish  Bentinck  promoted  all  that  was  good  for  the 
Hindus.  Their  friendly  influence  greatly  favored  our 
missionary  work  in  the  northwest  provinces. 

CORDIAL  Nothing  could  exceed  the  cordial  in- 

iNTERcouRSE  OP  tcrcourse  of  the  missionaries  of  different 

MISSIONARIES,     chuTchcs  with  each  other,  as  shown  on 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  133 

all  occasions ;    this  was  very  evident  at  their  monthly 
meeting.      It  was  held  for   breakfast  at  each  other's 
homes,  their  wives  always  with  them  when  they  could 
come.     After  this  social  hour  the  ladies  were  left  to  the 
pleasant  service  of  entertaining  each  other,  while  the 
men  went  to  the  study,  for  conference  on  subjects  of 
common  interest.     It  might  be  to  consider  a  special 
paper,  read  by  previous  appointment;  or  a  matter  re- 
quiring consideration  in  the  occurrences  of  the  previous 
month;  or  the  composing  informally   of   some   local 
trouble  between  native  Christians  of  different  missions; 
or  settling  plans  for  common  missionary  services,  etc.    A 
marked  example  of  this  good  feeling  occurred.     The 
best  translation  of  the  New  Testament  in  Bengali  had 
been  recently  completed  by  the  eminent  Sanscrit  and 
Bengali  scholar,  the  Rev.  Dr.   Yates,  of  the  English 
Baptist  Mission.     His  Baptist  co-laborers  were  grateful 
for  it  and  proud  of  it,  as  well  they  might  be.     It  was 
printed  at  their  press  in  Calcutta,  artd  its  merits  became 
known  to  the  missionaries  of  other  denominations,  so 
that  a  strong  desire  existed  to  be  permitted  to  make  use 
of  it  in  their  work.    But  certain  words  stood  in  the  way  ; 
many  could  not  use  immerse  as  the  only  Scriptural  word 
in  English  or  Bengali  for  baptism.     The  case  received 
friendly  consultation,  and  in  good  time  permission  was 
cordially  given  to  print  this  superior  version  separately, 
with  certain  words  transferred  as  in  our  English  version, 
while  the  Baptist  brethren  continued  to  print  them  ac- 
cording to  their  usage.     All  honor  to  them  for  their 
Christian  spirit !     The  suggestion  may  be  added,  that 
words  denoting  ideas  or  objects  not  in  a  native  language 
might  in  several  cases  be  transferred,  and  not  translated 
according  to  a  common  Hindu  usage.     As  an  example, 
"  tea  kettle  "  was  not  in  use.     The  people  did  not  drink 


134  PRESBYTEETAN  MISSIONS. 

tea,  the  word  kettle  was  not  known,  until  foreigners 
came  to  live  in  India;  and  the  word  itself  has  two 
sounds  not  expressed  in  their  alphabet — the  open  and  the 
obtuse  sounds  of  e.  The  people  solved  the  difficulty  by 
transferring  the  word,  writing  it  "kitlee,"  and  so  nat- 
uralizing it  as  a  Hindu  word,  with  an  easy  and  accurate 
idea  of  its  meaning.  Might  not  some  of  our  Christian 
words,  such  as  "righteousness,  sanctification,  and  re- 
demption," be  transferred  in  like  manner  ? 

The  harmony  of  the  Calcutta  Conference  should  re- 
buke an  error  as  to  personal  "  difficulties  "  among  mis- 
sionaries. The  writer  of  these  lines  may  say  that  he 
heard  of  no  difficulties  as  resulting  from  their  being  of 
so  many  denominations.  After  many  years  of  observa- 
tion he  believes  that  difficulties  hardly  ever  do  occur 
among  missionaries ;  and  when  unhappily  they  occur,  it 
is  usually  among  men  of  their  own  missions.  In  too 
close  relations  to  each  other,  men  of  imperfectly  sancti- 
fied nature  may  give  or  take  umbrage  where  no  offence 
was  intended,  or  ought  not  to  have  been  given.  More 
grace  would  prevent  or  terminate  the  trouble.  Let  all 
be  "  meek  and  lowly  in  heart,"  as  Christ  was,  and  there 
will  never  be  any  personal  difficulties.  But  if  difficul- 
ties do  arise,  then  let  Matthew  xviii.  15-1 Y,  and  Luke  vi. 
31,  be  deeply  considered,  and  literally  followed. 

TRUE  IDEA  Before  passing  from  this  Conference  it 
OP  CHRISTIAN  may  be  referred  to  as  manifesting  the  true 
UNION.  idea  and  the  duty  of  Christian  union.  Our 
Saviour's  prayer,  John  xvii.  11  and  21,  was  heard  for 
these  missionaries.  Of  the  five  denominations  in  Cal- 
cutta, each  missionary  followed  the  line  of  life  and  of 
work  for  Christ  to  which  he  felt  himself  called,  or  to 
which  his  Home  Church  had  appointed  him.  Xo  one 
attempted  to  break  down  denominational  lines  of  Church 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  135 

order  and  worship.  These  could  be  maintained  in  char- 
ity and  in  deference  to  the  differing  views  of  other 
brethren.  This  separate  action  as  members  of  different 
missionary  societies  was  not  antagonistic,  nor  intention- 
ally divisive  ;  neither  was  it  weakening.  It  was  like  the 
infantry,  cavalry,  artillery,  etc.,  of  an  army— increasing, 
not  lessening,  its  power ;  it  was  one  in  purpose,  object,  and 
sympathy.  It  was  all  this  because  it  was  a  spiritual  union 
—like  that  of  the  sacred  Persons  in  the  Blessed  Trinity. 
In  the  work  of  redemption,  their  offices  are  separate,  and 
yet  they  are  one.  Many  are  the  orders  of  the  angels, 
moreover,  and  many  the  high  services  of  the  archangels, 
differing,  but  all  one  in  spirit,  aim,  and  end.  The  king- 
dom of  God  cometh  not  with  observation — not  with  out- 
ward show  and  parade ;  it  is  "  within  you."  More  perfect 
spiritual  union  will  yet  be  obtained.  In  the  meantime 
missionaries  are  to  be  chiefly  "  witnesses  unto  Christ," 
standing  firmly  in  the  truth,  as  they  have  received  it, 
and  regarding  those  from  whom  they  differ  in  this  re- 
spect as  "  the  weaker  brethren  ";  while  yet  willing  to 
be  so  regarded  by  them.  But  as  they  learn  more  of 
divine  truth,  they  will  stand  more  nearly  to  the  same 
standards. 

CHIEF  The  members  of  the  Conference  stood 

■WORK  OF  in  the  lines  of  the  apostles — as  their  chief 
MISSIONARIES,  work  was  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  If 
educational  labors  were  adopted,  it  was  still  for  direct, 
evangehzing  purposes.  If  tracts,  or  books,  or  transla- 
tions of  the  Scriptures  were  prepared,  it  was  not  for  lit- 
erary or  scholastic  reputation ;  nothing  but  Christ  and 
Him  crucified  was  kept  in  view.  In  all  respects,  in  the 
use  of  all  their  gifts,  they  might  have  said  with  Spurgeon  : 
"  I  hate  the  science  of  comparative  theology.  I  know 
but  one  God,  and  all  the  rest  are  idols.     I  hate  the  com- 


136  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

parison  of  sacred  books.     I  know  of  only  one,  and  all 
the  rest  are  pretenders."    A  greater  than  Spurgeon  once 
stood  on  Mars  Hill,  far  superior  to  all  bis  bearers,  in 
gifts  of  intellect,  learning,  and  oratory ;  and  be  declared 
to  tbem  the  true  God;  be  spent  little  time  on  tbeir 
^'  comparative  "  tbeories  and  criticisms.     He  would  know 
notbing  but  Cbrist  and  Him  crucified.    Even  so  let  every 
missionary  and  every  friend  of  missions  abide  in  tbe  sin- 
gleness of  Gospel  service !     In  accord  witb  this  good 
wisb  was  tbe  teacbing  of  tbe  late  Dr.  Cbarles  Hodge  on 
Atbeism,  Pantbeism,  Polytbeism,  etc.  (Systematic  Tbe- 
ology,  vol.  i.) ;  and  tbe  works  of  Sir  Monier  Williams 
on  Brabmanism,  Hinduism,  and  Buddbism  as  an  out- 
growth of  tbe  latter,— two  vols.,  by  tbe  foremost  scholar 
of  our  day  on  such  subjects,  and  a  reverent  disciple 
of  our  Saviour.     Such  studies  by  such  men  may  be  of 
great  use  to  a  few  persons  of  special  gifts ;  but  hardly 
if  in  Sanscrit,  to  most  missionaries. 
HINDU  SCHOLARS.       The  uativo  Hindu  scholars  of  emi- 
THE  POOR.        nence  seldom  learn  to  rest   in   Cbrist 
THE  OUTLOOK.     Jesus  for  salvation.     A  more  remark- 
able example  could  hardly  be  cited  than  that  of  Kaja 
Rammobun  Roy,  whose  death  on  a  visit  in  England  was 
reported  in  Calcutta  in  1834,  after  a  long  life  of  eminent 
scholarship  and  fairness,  especially  in  tbe  Hne  of  Com- 
parative Religions,  as  to  which  bis  writings  were  indeed 
remarkable.     He  ended  his  course  virtually  as  a  Uni- 
tarian, but  he  remained  to  tbe  last  a  Brahman.    Some  of 
his  disciples  adhered  to  bis  teacbing.     Eventually  tbeir 
views  were  represented  in  tbe  Brahma  Soma],  or  Society 
— not  properly  called  a  Church  ;  and  other  Somdjas  were 
formed    in   various    provinces,   particularly   tbe   Arya 
Somaj.     Their  leading  adherents  have  usually  acquired 
some  degree  of  education  in  Engbsh;  many  of  them 


THE  WESTERN  FOE.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  137 

have  given  up  the  grosser  features  of  idolatry,  and  pro- 
fess  to  find  the  true  idea  of  religion  in  the  early  history 
of  their  sacred  writings.  But  they  all,  or  nearly  all,  re- 
main in  the  bonds  of  caste,  and  seldom  become  fol- 
lowers of  the  Saviour  of  sinners.  These  Soma]  Hindus 
are  comparatively  but  a  small  part  of  the  two  hundred 
and  ninety  millions  of  the  Hindus. 

Nevertheless  great  changes  have  taken  place  in  India 
within  the  last  century.     The  people  are  now  under  the 
best  government  and  the  most  upright  rulers,  and  enjoy 
the  best  means  of  education,  they  have  ever  had.     For- 
eign commerce,  railroads,  steamboats,  all  work  against 
caste;  and  many  modern  ideas  are  penetrating  minds 
long  contented  in  darkness.     Particular  statements  can- 
not here  be  adduced  ;  but  as  yet  it  must  be  acknowledged 
that  the  masses  of  the  Hindus,  the  poorer  classes  form- 
ing the  great  bulk  of  the  inhabitants,  know  but  little  of 
the  Gospel.     It  is,  however,  among  the  poorer  Hindus 
that  the  chief  encouragement  has  been  found  in  mis- 
sionary work— among  the  poorer  castes,  the  Teloogoos, 
for  instance,  or  the  almost  no-castes  like  the  Chuhras. 
Our  missionary  life  and  work  in  India,  as  in  every  coun- 
try, is  of  course  for  all— high  and  low,  rich  and  poor, 
Brahmans  and  Chuhras,  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Schwartz, 
Carey,  Spurgeon,  and  the  great  Apostle.     Such  indeed 
was  the  example  of  our  blessed  Lord  himself.     In  His 
teaching  we  see  little  if  any  reference  to  the  speculations 
of  Koman,  Grecian,  and  other  so-called  philosophers,  but 
the  principles  and  truths  that  He  taught  overthrew  all 
their  vain  theories;   He  preached  the  Gospel   to  the 
poor.    Such  preaching  will  carry  the  victory  over  every 
form  of  error,  from  the  Yale  of  Cashmere  to  Cape 
Comorin,  and  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 


138  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

EXCEPTIONABLE  III  this  period  an  Independent  mission- 
THEORiEs.  ary,  who  had  been  ten  or  a  dozen  of  years 
in  another  country,  passed  through  Calcutta  on  his  way 
to  his  home  in  Europe.  He  held  the  opinions  of  the 
Darbyites,  or  Plymouth  Brethren,  made  but  little  of 
church  organization  and  its  ministry,  expected  the 
speedy  coming  of  our  Saviour,  and  believed  that  the 
world  would  then  soon  be  converted.  He  was  a 
man  of  talents,  pleasing  manners,  and  a  fine  conversa- 
tionalist. A  kind  and  courteous  reception  was  ac- 
corded to  him  by  individuals;  but  his  confident  opin- 
ions, strongly  expressed  to  men  who  were  his  seniors 
in  experience  and  of  greater  practical  ability  as  mission- 
aries, limited  the  influence  of  his  visit.  It  was  an  ex- 
ample to  be  studied  by  a  new  missionary,  particularly 
its  questionable  trust  in  unusual  methods,  and  its  expec- 
tation of  immediate  success.  His  hopes  have  not  been 
verified.  A  somewhat  similar  theory  as  to  haste  in  the 
salvation  of  the  world  is  now  advocated  in  certain  quar- 
ters. This,  it  is  held,  can  be  done  "  before  the  end  of 
this  century,"  or  at  any  rate,  "  during  this  generation." 
It  is  to  be  done  by  evangelizing^  not  by  converting^  the 
world.  Now  whatever  limited  instruction  might  be 
given  in  times  of  persecution  by  the  disciples  of  Christ 
fleeing  for  their  lives,  we  must  refer  to  our  Lord's  last 
commandment  as  the  foundation  of  Christian  missions. 
Such  is  the  faith  of  the  Church  in  all  ages.  This  com- 
mandment is  obeyed  by  Teaching  and  by  the  adminis- 
tration of  Baptism.  "  Go  ye  therefore  and  mate  dis- 
ciples of  all  the  nations,"  Baptizing  them,  and  Teaching 
them.  (See  Revised  version,  and  margin  of  Authorized 
version.)  These  requirements  are  understood  to  include 
church  organization,  the  ministry,  the  succession  of 
Gospel  ordinances,  and  the  use  of  the  means  of  grace. 


THE  WESTERIT  FOE.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  139 

So  the  Commandment  was  understood  by  the  Apostles ; 
so  by  the  first  Christians  (see  Acts  xiii.).  And  such  is 
the  general  understanding  of  our  Presbyterian  people  at 
the  present  day.  It  is  "  power  from  on  high  "  that  will 
qualify  men  to  be  missionaries  and  give  them  success ; 
it  is  as  "  witnesses  unto  Christ "  they  go  forth,  in  the  use 
of  the  appointed  means  of  grace ;  it  is  far  from  being 
merely  flying  heralds,  "  not  stopping  even  to  repeat  the 
rejected  message."  As  to  the  exact  time  of  the  world's 
redemption,  we  may  well  leave  that  with  God.  Has  it 
been  revealed  unto  us  ?  Let  the  wonderful  progress  of 
missionary  work  in  our  day  call  forth  grateful  acknowl- 
edgment, and  be  continued  with  true  devotion,  on 
only  Scriptural  lines  and  promises ! 
PAINFUL  The  sojourn  of  the  new  missionaries  at  the 
SIGHTS,  chief  city  of  India,  gave  them  numberless 
opportunities  of  seeing  the  influence  of  heathenism 
on  its  inhabitants.  It  is  dark  and  dreadful ;  yet  the 
people  are  an  interesting  race,  and  their  land  one  of  the 
best  in  the  world.  But  illustrations  cannot  here  be 
given,  though  an  incident  or  two  may  be  mentioned. 
One  of  the  painful  "  sights  "  at  Howrah,  opposite  Cal- 
cutta, where  the  missionaries  lived  for  several  months, 
was  that  of  "  hook-swinging," — not  then  prohibited  by 
the  Government.  This  case  occurred  on  a  vacant  lot 
in  the  rear  of  their  house — not  many  feet  distant,  but 
in  full  view  from  their  back  windows.  The  poor  man 
was  evidently  intoxicated,  and  hardly  conscious  of  what 
was  going  on.  A  thick  bandage  around  his  waist,  cov- 
ering the  space  in  which  the  hooks  were  inserted  in  his 
back,  prevented  the  risk  of  being  thrown  to  the  ground. 
The  hooks  were  pushed  into  the  living  flesh,  and  tied 
by  strong  cords  to  the  end  of  a  slender  cross-beam  of 
twenty-five  or  thirty  feet.     This  beam  was  fastened  and 


140  PEESBYTEETAN  MISSIONS. 

made  to  revolve  on  the  top  of  an  upright  post  about 
thirty  feet  high.  It  was  then  rapidly  pulled  around  and 
around  by  spectators  seizing  the  ropes  fastened  to  its 
other  end — swinging  the  poor  victim  in  the  air,  flour- 
ishing a  cane  in  bravado  for  several  minutes.  The 
shouts  of  the  crowd  saluted  him.  When  he  was  let 
down,  he  appeared  to  be  stupid  and  unconscious,  but  he 
was  looked  on  as  a  martyr.  It  was  a  painful,  irrever- 
ent, disgusting  sight,  worthy  of  heathenism. 

Of  many  sad  sights,  none  was  more  touching  than 
that  of  a  young  mother  teaching  her  little  daughter  to 
worship  an  idol.  On  his  early  morning  walk  for  exer- 
cise in  the  suburbs,  when  but  few  persons  were  yet  in 
the  street,  one  of  the  missionaries  saw  this  young 
woman  going  with  a  serious  air  and  holding  in  hand  a 
child  four  or  five  years  old,  which  was  trying  hard  to 
keep  up.  Leaving  the  street,  she  entered  a  small,  open 
space,  and  stood  at  the  door  of  a  low  temple.  There  she 
made  her  own  worship,  bowing  down,  then  she  took  her 
child's  hands,  put  them  together,  and  raised  them  to  its 
face,  and  taught  the  little  girl  to  salute  the  idol.  A  few 
minutes  were  thus  spent,  and,  after  leaving  some  small 
gift  for  the  idol,  or  rather,  for  the  attending  priest,  they 
slowly  left  the  place,  and  returned  to  the  street  home- 
ward. The  missionary  went  into  the  enclosed  place, 
looked  into  the  house  of  the  idol,  but  could  hardly  rec 
ognize  its  hideous  features  in  the  dim  light.  From  this 
his  thoughts  followed  the  poor  mother  and  her  little 
daughter,  and  deeply  was  his  morning  walk  saddened. 
How  little  were  her  anxious  thoughts  for  her  dear 
child  relieved !  How  dark  was  her  mind !  Alas  for 
the  heathen  mother  and  the  heathen  child  !] 

In  the  Second  Annual  Eeport,  1834,  already  quoted, 
the  missionaries  are  referred  to  as    "expressing,  and 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  141 

that  repeatedly,  the  hope  that  additional   missionaries 
maj  be  speedily  sent  out  to  join  them ;  and  the  decease 
of  one  of  theu-  valued  members,  and  the  importance  of 
the  field  itself,  give  great  force  to  this  solicitation.    The 
Committee  are  happy  to  say  that  they  have  it  in  pros- 
pect to  send  a  reinforcement  in  the  course  of  the  ensu- 
ing autumn.     In  the  meantime,  it  would  be  highly  use- 
ful to  provide  for  that  station  a  printing-press  to  be  sent 
out  from  this  country,  with  the  view  of  obtaining  a 
font  of  type  in  the  Punjabee  at  Calcutta ;  and  charts, 
maps,  and  globes,  and  other  apparatus,  for  the  High 
School  which  the  mission  intend  speedily  to  establish, 
would  be  extremely  serviceable.     '  If  one  hundred  addi- 
tional missionaries  could  be  sent  out  there  would  be,' 
say  these  brethren,  '  an  abundance  of  work  to  employ 
them  all.'" 

The  following  quotations  are  from  the  Third  Annual 
Report,  of  May  18,  1835  : 

"  Our  last  Report  left  its  three  surviving  members, 
viz.,  the  Rev.  John  C.  Lowrie,  Rev.  William  Reed, 
and  Mrs.  Harriet  Reed,  in  Calcutta,  diligently  prosecut- 
ing the  study  of  the  language  of  th3  Punjab;  and 
making  preparations  to  leave  that  city  for  the  Xorth 
of  India,  as  soon  as  the  appropriate  season  should  ar- 
rive. In  the  meantime,  however,  the  health  of  Mr. 
Reed  became  visibly  impaired,  and  a  bad  cough  and 
fever  were  soon  followed  by  the  painful  evidences  of 
a  confirmed  consumption.  From  this  period,  the  de- 
cline of  this  amiable  and  devoted  missionary  was  so 
rapid,  that  all  expectation  of  his  being  able  to  labor  in 
India  ceased;  and  after  long  and  trying  consultation, 
and  after  having  obtained  the  best  medical  advice,  it 
was  resolved  that  Mr.  Reed  and  his  partner  should  take 
passage  for  the  United  States,  while  Mr.  Lowrie  pro- 


142  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

ceeded  to  Lodiana,  to  make  preparations  to  commence 
the  mission. 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eeed  embarked  on  the  23d  of 
July  (1834),  and  on  the  12th  of  August,  after  a  few 
days  of  rapid  decline,  the  dying  missionary  closed  in 
serenity  and  peace  his  earthly  sufferings,  and  his  re- 
mains in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  were  committed 
to  the  watery  deep ;  leaving  his  bereaved  partner  in  the 
most  delicate  and  trying  circumstances,  to  prosecute  the 
tedious  voyage  on  which  they  had  just  entered.  The 
gratitude  of  the  Board  is  due  to  Captain  Land  of  the 
ship  Edward,  for  his  affectionate  sympathy  and  unre- 
mitting attention  to  Mr.  Eeed  while  he  survived,  and  to 
his  widowed  companion,  who  reached  this  country  in 
safety  on  the  12th  of  December  following. 

"  Mr.  Lowrie  left  Calcutta  on  the  day  after  this  pain- 
ful separation  from  his  beloved  associates,  and,  at  the 
date  of  his  last  communications,  had  arrived  within  a 
few  days'  travel  of  Lodiana  [arriving  there  November  5, 
1834],  having  ascended  the  Ganges  to  Cawnpore,  and 
thus  gained  by  personal  observation  much  useful  infor- 
mation, as  to  the  state  of  society  and  morals,  the  cus- 
toms and  religious  rites  of  the  Hindus,  the  trade  and 
various  phenomena  of  that  far-famed  river,  and  of  the 
scenery,  soil,  productions,  cities,  temples,  and  military 
stations,  along  its  banks. 

"  In  view  of  the  providential  reduction  of  this  mis- 
sion to  a  single  individual,  it  is  cause  of  unfeigned 
thankfulness  to  God  that  the  survivor,  and  the  pioneer 
in  the  enterprise,  should  be  a  man  who,  by  the  union  of 
judgment,  prudence,  and  energy,  with  gentleness,  for- 
titude, and  devotedness  to  the  work,  is  so  well  fitted  for 
the  difficult  and  responsible  situation. 

"In   the   beginning    of    November    last,   the   Eev. 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.  SOCIETY.  143 

Messrs.  James  "Wilson   and   John  l^ewton,  with  their 
wives,  and  Miss  Julia  A.  Davis,  sailed  from  Boston  as  a 
reinforcement  to  this  mission;  and  probably  ere  this 
have  arrived  at  Calcutta,  from  whence,  after  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  friends  of  missions  in  that  city, 
and  making  the  necessary  preparations,   they  are  ex- 
pected to  proceed  in  time  to  join  Mr.  Lowrie  early  in 
autumn.     The  Eev.  James  E.   Campbell,  of  the  Re- 
formed Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Eev.  James  Mc- 
Eweh,   of   the   Presbytery   of   Philadelphia,   and  Mr. 
David  Hull,  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  ]S"orthum. 
berland,  have  since  been  appointed  to  the  same  field, 
and  are  expected,  in  connection  with  a  physician,  and 
one  or  two  assistant  teachers,  if  suitable  persons  should 
in  the  meantime  be  obtained,  to  leave  this  country  in 
October  next.     If  this  reinforcement  be  permitted  to 
reach  Lodiana  in  safety,  and  not  find  the  force  already 
sent  out  materially  weakened,  it  is  the  expectation  of 
the  Committee  that  an  additional  station,  either  in  Cash- 
mere, at  Ambala,  or  some  still  more  promising  position, 
will  be  soon  formed.     Through  the  distinguished  mu' 
nificence   of    a   single  individual,   an   excellent  philo- 
sophical apparatus  for  a  native  high-school  has  already 
been  sent  to  Upper  India,  and  it  is  the   purpose   of 
the   Committee    to    provide   a   printing-press  and  ap- 
pai-atus,  to  be  forwarded  next  fall ;  and  from  the  num- 
ber of  young  men  who  are  known  to  have  that  field 
in  view,  and  other  indications  of  Providence  in  refer- 
ence to  it,  they  are  led  to  believe  that  these  and  every 
other  desirable  facility  for  the  vigorous  and  extended 
prosecution  of   this  mission,  should  be  provided.     In 
view  of  the  disproportionate  amount  of  effort  which  the 
Committee  have  already  resolved  to  apply  to  Xorth- 
western  India,  the  Board  may  desire  a  brief  statement 


144  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

of  the  considerations  on  whicb  this  policy  is  founded 
[as  drawn  from  books  on  India  and  Central  Asia,  not 
from  the  correspondence  of  the  missionaries,  then  too 
recently  arrived  to  write  on  some  of  these  subjects]. 
They  are  such  as  apply  to  Hindustan  in  general,  and 
such  as  respect  that  part  of  it  in  particular. 

"  It  is  in  the  contemplation  of  India,  and  with  it  as 
an  instrument,  the  whole  of   peninsular  Asia,  as  ap- 
parently on  the  eve  of  a  great  revolution  in  its  intel- 
lectual and  religious  prospects,  that  we  feel  a  special 
interest  in  it  as  a  missionary  field.     If   the  tram  of 
causes  which  led  to  the  establishment  and  the  exten- 
sion of  a  Protestant  power  in  that  country,  and  which 
will  inevitably  lead  to  the  far  greater  extension  of  its 
moral  influence,  and  develop  the  singular  wisdom  of 
Divine  Providence,  not  less  so  are  now  the  means  by 
which  the  fearful  structure  of  Buddhism  is  crumbling 
away.     The  native  press,  originally  got  up  to  sustain 
it,  is  now,  through  its  concessions  and  the  tone  of  feel- 
ing it  encourages,  becoming  a  most  powerful  engine  in 
its  overthrow.     It  now  contributes  with  other  means, 
to   weaken  prejudices    and    soften    the    asperities    of 
bigotry ;  to  excite  a  spirit  of  inquiry ;  and  is,  with  the 
influence  of  native  schools,  creating  a  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge, and  making  Christianity  a  topic  of  famihar  con- 
versation, tending  to  aid  the  civil  authority  in  the  sup- 
pression of  those  cruelties  and  excesses,  by  which  super- 
stition maintains  its  firmest  hold  of  an  ignorant  and  de- 
luded people.     The  Brahmans,  it  is  said,  fully  expect 
the  speedy  termination  of  all  the  sanctity  of  their  idol- 
ized rivers ;  and  then,  as  one  of  them  recently  observed, 
'  nothing  will  remain  to  Hindus  but  to  embrace  the  Chris- 
tian faith.'     If  this  is  the  feeling  beginning  to  possess 
the  minds  of  the  most  bigoted  and  influential  among  a 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  145 

population  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  millions,  and  that 
in  a  land  which  has  been  the  stronghold  of  Buddhism, 
and  at  a  moment  when  Burmah,  on  its  border,  is  also 
powerfully  shaken,  we  may  easily  see  how  eventful  to 
the  missionary  enterprise  is  the  crisis  which  it  has 
attained. 

"  We,  however,  proceed  to  notice  the  local  advantages 
of  Northern  India. 

"  In  the  execution  of  the  Redeemer's  commission,  no 
part  of  the  earth,  it  is  true,  is  to  be  excepted,  on  account 
of  the  insalubrity  of  its  climate  or  the  degradation  or 
the  ferocity  of  its  population.  Still,  at  every  stage  of 
the  progress  of  its  evangelization,  it  is  proper,  other 
things  being  equal,  to  prefer  locations  of  less  moral  or 
physical  obstruction,  to  those  which  have  greater.  The 
intense  heat  and  periodical  winds  of  the  day,  and  the 
extreme  humidity  of  the  atmosphere,  in  the  wet  seasons 
of  Hindustan,  have  always  made  almost  every  part  of 
it  a  precarious  and  very  often  a  fatal  abode,  for  both 
Anglo  and  American  emigrants;  although  the  cold  is 
doubtless  considerably  greater  in  these  upper  provinces, 
than  in  other  parts  of  India.  Burns  found  the  heat  so 
great  at  Lahore,  Lodiana,  and  Moultan,  that  in  the  month 
of  June  the  thermometer  stood  at  100°,  even  in  the 
shade  of  a  bungalow  artificially  cooled.  The  chief  con- 
sideration, therefore,  in  favor  of  this  field,  is  its  prox- 
imity to  some  of  the  most  elevated  and  salubrious  posts 
in  Asia.  Simla,  a  place  of  considerable  resort  for  sani- 
tary purposes,  which  attains  an  elevation  of  7,800  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  where,  according  to  Cap- 
tain Mundy,  the  thermometer  in  May  or  June  never 
rises  higher  than  72°,  and  never  sinks  lower  than  55°, 
is  but  100  miles  from  Lodiana.  Roopur  and  Sabathu 
are  still  nearer,  while  Ambala,  which  has  been  some- 


146  PRESBYTEKIAN   MISSIONS. 

times  mentioned  by  our  brethren  for  a  second  position, 
approaches  still  closer  to  the  base  of  the  Asiatic  range. 
If,  in  securing  these  advantages  of  locality,  we  have  re- 
ceded several  hundreds  of  miles  into  the  interior,  ordi- 
narily precluding  frequent  communication,  and  requiring 
a  long  and  expensive  journey,  it  is  to  be  recollected  that 
1,000  miles  in  the  navigation  of  rivers  destitute  of  every 
obstruction,  will  bring  the  trade  of  the  Punjab,  as  high 
up  as  Lodiana,  to  the  ocean,  on  the  line  of  the  intended 
thoroughfare  from  India  to  Europe— not  less  than  1,000 
miles  nearer  the  latter  than  Calcutta  itself.  [A  hope 
since  verified,  though  not  by  navigation,  but  by  railway. 
The  journey  to  either  city  is  now  made  in  two  or  three 
days.] 

"Apart  from  the  fact  that  the  opening  of  the  Indus 
and  its  tributaries  to  an  active  commerce  by  steam  com- 
munication, now  in  contemplation,  and  the  concentration 
of  a  considerable  trade  from  Thibet  and  Tartary,  through 
the  defiles  of  the  mountains,  carrying  back  into  these 
benighted  regions  the  arts  and  religious  light  of  Chris- 
tian nations,  it  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  political  ascend- 
ency of  the  powerful  chief  of  the  Sikh  nation,  already 
makes  the  Punjab  the  most  safe  and  convenient  entrance 
into  Cabool,  Bokhara,  and  Eastern  Persia.  In  these 
countries,  it  is  true,  the  Moslem  faith,  in  a  milder  form 
than  in  Western  Asia,  has  long  prevailed ;  but  it  is  be- 
lieved that  Christianity  would  even  now  be  tolerated,  as 
Hinduism  is ;  and  Burns  states  that  while  travelling  in 
these  unfrequented  countries,  he  gathered  from  the  con- 
versation of  the  Mohanmiedans  of  Cabool  and  Persia 
among  themselves,  that  there  existed  among  them  a  pre- 
diction that  Christianity  was  speedily  to  overturn  the 
entire  structure  of  their  faith.  The  Scriptures  have  been 
translated   into  the  Mongolian    language — a  language 


THE  WESTERN  FOE.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  147 

spoken  by  many  tribes,  from  the  shores  of  the  Baikal  to 
the  borders  of  Thibet,  and  from  the  Caspian  to  the  gates 
of  Pekin,  including  millions  in  the  Chinese  empire; 
and  if  our  Society  should  eventually  establish  a  mission 
at  Selinga,  Kiatka,  or  some  other  spot  under  the  protec- 
tion of  a  Christian  power,  in  Asiatic  Russia,  and  another 
on  the  borders  of  China  or  Tartary,  on  the  great  thor- 
oughfare from  Pekin  to  Tobolsk  and  St.  Petersburgh, 
these  two  remote  positions  would  stand  towards  each 
other,  and  the  great  plateau  of  Central  Asia,  in  the  most 
interesting  and  powerful  relation." 

[In  the  earlier  years  of  the  India  Mission  the  journey 
of  a  family,  and  of  a  single  traveller  with  any  house- 
keeping articles,  from  Calcutta  to  Lodiana,  was  made  by 
boat  on  the  Ganges  to  Cawnpore  or  to  Futtehgurh— 
the  former  about  620  miles  direct  distance  or' 1,000 
miles  by  the  river,  requiring  about  two  months  and  a 
half  for  the  voyage;  the  latter  720  miles  direct;  and 
then  overland  to  Lodiana,  nearly  1,200  miles  from  Cal- 
cutta. ^  For  the  tedious,  dangerous,  but  very  interesting 
river  journey ;  and  for  information  concerning  Upper 
India  and  the  first  years  of  the  new  mission,  see  the 
book  already  referred  to. 

AT  LODIANA,  From  the  23d  of  November,  1835,  to 
MESSRS.  WILSON  the  21st  of  Jauuary,  1836,  the  first  three 
AND  NEWTON,  missiouarics,  above  named,  had  the  happi- 
ness  of  meeting  again  and  spending  the  time  mostly  at 
Lodiana.  They  and  Mr.  Eeed  had  been  personal  friends 
at  college  and  theological  seminary.  They  had  been 
separated  in  the  spring  of  1833.  Sad  changes  had  since 
occurred.  But  now  with  the  lovely  and  devoted  Mrs. 
Wilson  and  Mrs.  l^ewton  they  were  in  Christian  fellow- 
ship and  council,  in  regard  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  in  the 
great  field  set  before  the  Church  which  they  represented. 


148  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  a  man  of  sterling  good  sense,  bright, 
and  genial,  of  most  winning  manners,  and  of  truly  con- 
secrated spirit ;  Mr.  Newton  was  of  humble,  straightfor- 
ward devotedness  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  of  consid- 
erate and  most  pleasant  address.  And  it  is  paying  the 
ladies  an  insufficient  compliment  to  say  that  they  were 
worthy  of  their  husbands.  All  are  entered  into  rest  ex- 
cept the  writer  of  these  lines. 

Of  their  ten  children,  six  entered  the  ministry,  of 
whom  two  were  also  physicians ;  one  was  an  elder,  two 
were  wives  of  missionaries,  and  one  was  the  wife  of  a 
merchant,  both  faithful  members  of  the  Church — seven 
of  them  in  foreign  or  home  missionary  service,  one 
an  honored  pastor  at  home  for  many  years  in  his  present 
charge — all  showing  a  good  and  enviable  record ;  so  one 
may  write  who  has  kept  a  friendly  eye  on  them  all.  Of 
these  ten,  five  have  gone  to  be  in  the  blessed  family  of 
heaven. 

WHY  A  Many  subjects  were  carefully  studied  in 

PRESBYTERY  thls  couucil  of  fivc  pcrsous,  with  earnest 

WAS  NOT     prayers  for  divine  direction.      For  informa- 
FORMED  AT    tlou  as  to  most  of  these  matters  reference 

LODiANA.  may  be  made  to  the  Annual  Eeports  of  the 
Society  and  to  the  pages  of  its  monthly  magazine — the 
Foreign  Missionary  Chronicle.  One  of  these  subjects, 
however,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  reported,  and  it  is 
worthy  of  a  place  in  this  Note.  Why  did  not  the  three 
ministers  organize  a  Presbytery  at  Lodiana  ?  It  was  not 
for  want  of  a  high  regard  for  this  part  of  their  Church 
system,  nor  for  any  inferior  sense  of  its  bearing  on  their 
work  as  missionaries ;  but  it  was  mainly  owing  to  their 
inexperience, — and  perhaps  to  some  want  of  considera- 
tion at  home.  At  any  rate  the  young  ministers  sup- 
posed that  organized  churches  and  ruling  elders  were 


THE   WESTERN   FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  149 

required  as  well  as  ministers,  in  order  to  conistitute  a 
Presbytery.  This  view  was  not  accepted  in  this  country, 
as  they  afterwards  learned.  See  the  two  Presbyteries 
organized  in  California,  one  by  each  General  Assembly, 
old  and  new,  each  Presbytery  at  first  consisting  only  of 
ministers.  On  the  theory  that  the  ofiice  of  a  minister 
includes  that  of  an  elder,  this  action  was  "  in  order  ";  as 
it  might  have  been  at  any  rate  in  the  special  circum- 
stances. And  it  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  this  ruling 
could  not  have  been  known  at  Lodiana ;  a  Presbytery 
would  then  have  been  organized  in  1835,  instead  of  1842 ; 
with  the  approval  of  the  General  Assembly. 

This  revered  institution  might  have  modified  what  is 
known  as  the  Mission,  afterwards  so  prominent ;  or  it 
might  perhaps  have  altogether  prevented  its  coming  into 
use  among  Presbyterians,  abroad  as  at  home. 
PRESBYTERY  lu  the  ucxt  couipauy  of  missionaries  for 
OR  the  Lodiana  field,  several  Reformed  Presby- 

MIS8I0N.  terian  missionaries,  and  others  of  the  same 
Church  afterwards,  led  to  their  organizing  a  Presby- 
tery in  connection  with  their  Synod,  while  the  earlier 
brethren  and  their  successors  eventually  formed  a  Pres- 
bytery connected  with  the  General  Assembly.  Subse- 
quently most  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  brethren,  and 
ministers  and  elders  of  their  Synod,  among  the  best 
men,  found  their  ecclesiastical  home  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  all  this,  there  was  no  want  of  agreement 
and  Christian  fellowship.  It  led  partly,  however,  to  the 
transaction  of  certain  missionary  matters  by  the  '  Mission,' 
rather  than  by  the  Presbytery,  following  in  this  respect 
the  example  of  other  Societies,  earlier  in  the  field,  who 
were  supported  mostly  by  Congregational  or  Independ- 
ent churches. 

The  question    has   often    been   asked,   whether   the 


150  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

so-called  'Missions'  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  might 
not  well  be  superseded  by  Presbyteries.  It  is  a  subject 
that  has  several  sides,  and  it  is  not  intended  to  discuss 
it  here  at  any  length.  So  far  as  financial  matters  are 
concerned,  the  native  ministers  and  elders  might  well 
have  the  Presbyterial  supervision  of  gifts  and  payments 
of  funds  from  the  native  churches  and  other  native 
sources,  their  votes  by  common  consent  being  necessary 
to  a  decision.  In  like  manner  the  foreign  members 
should  continue  in  charge  of  the  funds  sent  out  by  the 
churches  in  our  country,  as  best  understanding  their  con. 
ditions,  readily  being  held  responsible  for  their  specified 
use,  and  best  aiding  to  obtain  liberal  support  for  the 
work.  It  is  moreover  of  great  interest,  that  the  com- 
mon consideration  and  discussion  by  both  the  native  and 
foreign  brethren  in  Presbytery  would  go  far  to  prepare 
the  native  churches  for  their  great  work  of  seK-support, 
when  they  become  independent  of  foreign  assistance. 
The  '  Mission '  is  but  a  Committee  of  a  Committee,  con- 
sisting of  foreign  members.  The  Presbytery  is  of  divine 
warrant,  abroad  as  at  home.  It  includes  all,  native  and 
foreign,  ministers  and  elders.  It  acts  under  definite  rules 
— well  known,  easily  applicable  to  all  cases,  and  subject 
to  review.  The  present  double  action  of  Mission  and 
Presbytery  seems  to  require  a  good  deal  of  adjusting. 
It  certainly  seems  to  be  important  that  ministers  and 
elders  of  native  churches  should  be  on  the  same  general 
footing  with  their  foreign  brethren,  in  matters  affecting 
the  welfare  of  their  churches.  And  it  is  gratifying  to 
feel  sure  that  this  is  the  common  feeling  on  both  sides. 
There  is  a  home  side  to  the  question  of  Presbytery 
instead  of  Mission.  The  latter  seems  to  require  greater 
labors  at  the  Mission  House  and  greater  expense  also 
than  would  be  incurred  by  the  former.     This  results 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  151 

from  placing  the  supervision  of  so  many  matters  in  the 
charge   of    the   Executive   officers.     Important   duties 
must  certainly  devolve  upon  the  Board  as  a  Permanent 
Committee  of  the  General  Assembly,  such  as  the  appor- 
tionment of  funds  among  the  fields  of  labor,  the  appoint- 
ment of  missionaries,  etc.     But  the  methods  of  work  hi 
the  field,  the  numberless  details  of  this  work  already  to 
some  extent  under  their  supervision,  might  well  be  left 
as  far  as  possible  to  the  missionaries ;  as  also  the  general 
subjects  that  fall  under  the  settled  policy  of  the  Church 
in  this  country.   These  brethren  are  capable  of  such  work, 
being  the  equals  of  their  fellow-laborers  at  home.     These 
field  matters  must  have  due  attention— which  could  be 
best  secured,  as  it  is  believed,  under  the  Presbytery,  rather 
than  the  Mission.     And  all  the  more  so,  as  the  number 
of  missionaries  becomes  larger,  their  experience  increased, 
and  their  plans  of  work  fully  matured.     On  the  other 
hand,  the  more  limited  supervision  at  home  would  be  in- 
creasingly thorough,  and  involve  less  expense. 

Purposely  this  suggestion  leaves  out  of  view  expenses 
for  the  collection  of  funds  in  this  country.     On  the 
theory  of  our  Church,  elsewhere  referred  to,  gifts  for 
the  cause  of  Missions  are  the  fruits  of  divine  grace, 
and  should  be  sought  for  mainly  in  the  use  of  the  ordi- 
nary means  of  grace,  under  the  lead  of  the  church  ses- 
sion and  pastor.    Many  and  remarkable  examples  verify- 
ing this  might   be  readily  cited   in  our  Presbyterian 
churches.     The  good  influence  of  all  our  church  courts, 
Presbyteries,  Synods,  and  the  General  Assembly,  greatly 
promotes  this  happy  result.    Where  this  general  Church 
influence  is  adverse,  a  Missionary  Society  is  justifiable 
in  the  employment  of  agencies  in  visits  to  churches  that 
may  be  open  to  them  for  collections ;  as  in  the  case  of  a 
foreign  Society,  which  is  admirably  conducted,  though 


152  PEESBTTEBIAN  MISSIONS. 

its  agents  are  much  larger  in  number  than  its  Executive 
oflScers,  and  their  expense  greater. 

The  hne  of  policy  as  to  supervision  thus  briefly  sug- 
gested was  the  well-considered  opinion  of  the  late  senior 
Secretary  of  the  oldest  Missionary  Board  in  our  country, 
a  minister  eminent  for  his  great  knowledge  and  discrim- 
inating judgment  in  missionary  affairs.  It  was  based  on 
intimate  and  long  acquaintance  with  Missions  in  his 
own  Church.  He  believed  that  in  this  way  the  number 
of  missionaries  might  be  largely  increased  without  a  pro- 
portional increase  of  executive  expenses  in  this  country. 
In  the  Presbyterian  denomination  we  may  prefer  Pres- 
bytery to  3f issions,  for  many  reasons ;  but  in  both  let 
the  supervision  of  the  work  in  the  field  be  left  to  the 
men  on  the  ground  as  far  as  practicable.] 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  Fourth  Annual 
Eeport,  May,  1836,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Swift : 

"  This  mission  at  present,  consists  of  fifteen  individ- 
uals, comprising  five  ordained  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
and  three  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and  possessing  two 
printing-presses,  a  philosophical  apparatus,  and  a  good 
library.  The  Committee  rejoice  in  being  able  to  state, 
that  since  the  last  Annual  Report,  the  operations  of  the 
Mission  to  India  have  been  attended  with  the  continued 
marks  of  the  divine  favor.  The  lives  of  all  the  mission- 
aries have  been  preserved,  and  the  health  of  the  Rev. 
John  C.  Lowrie,  the  only  one  of  them  who  has  been 
seriously  indisposed,  has  not  materially  changed  during 
the  year.  Rev.  Messrs.  James  Wilson  and  John  New- 
ton, with  their  wives,  after  a  prosperous  voyage,  arrived 
at  Calcutta  in  due  season,  and  remained  in  that  city,  as 
was  expected,  until  the  24th  of  June  last,  when  they  pro- 
ceeded by  water,  on  their  way  to  the  Upper  Provinces. 
During  their  stay,  and  on  their  protracted  voyage  up  the 


THE   WESTERN   FOE.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  153 

Ganges,  they  were  all  blessed  witli  good  health  and 
spirits ;  at  the  last  date  of  intelligence  from  them,  they 
were  proceeding,  by  land,  from  the  river  to  Lodiana, 
where  they  probably  arrived  early  in  December  last. 
Miss  Julia  A.  Davis,  who  accompanied  this  reinforce- 
ment, as  an  assistant  to  the  mission,  was  induced,  some 
time  after  her  arrival  at  Calcutta,  and  with  the  concur- 
rence of  our  brethren,  and  the  friends  of  the  missionary 
cause  in  that  city,  to  form  a  matrimonial  connection  with 
Eev.  John  Goadby,  of  the  English  General  Baptist  Mis- 
sion at  Cuttack  ;  and  in  consequence  withdrew  from  her 
connection  with  this  Board,  with  the  hope,  it  is  believed, 
of  being  enabled,  with  greater  prospects  of  usefulness,  to 
prosecute  the  work  for  which  she  left  her  native  land. 

"  Our  missionary  brethren  appear  to  have  met  with 
great  kindness  and  hospitality,  at  all  the  stations  and 
British  settlements,  on  their  way  up  the  Ganges,  and  to 
have  experienced  a  growing  conviction  of  the  import- 
ance of  India  missions,  and  the  desirableness  of  a  great 
enlargement  of  our  operations  in  that  country. 

"  Mr.  Lowrie  having,  in  compliance  with  a  special  and 
repeated  invitation  from  the  powerful  sovereign  of  the 
Punjab,  made  an  excursion  to  the  court  of  Labor,  con- 
ferred with  the  Government  on  the  subject  of  education, 
and  visited  some  of  the  principal  cities  and  other  ob- 
jects of  interest  within  its  territory ;  and  having  spent 
the  hot  season  at  Simla,  in  what  is  familiarly  called  the 
Hills,  or  Hill  Provinces,  and  made  several  tours  of  ob- 
servation during  the  summer,  for  the  purposes  of  infor- 
mation as  well  as  of  exercise  and  change  of  air,  has 
thus  collected  an  amount  of  knowledge  which  may  prove 
highly  useful  to  the  cause  of  missions. 

"  In  education,  agriculture,  and  morals,  Mr.  Lowrie 
found   the   population   of    the   Maha  Kajah,   Runjeet 


154  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

Singh,  consisting  of  Sikhs,  Hindus,  Mussulmans,  etc., 
much  like  other  parts  of  Hindustan.  This  territory 
was  originally  divided  among  a  number  of  independ- 
ent princes,  who  now  acknowledge  the  sway  of  this 
powerful  chief.  But  on  the  termination  of  his  life, 
now  considerably  advanced,  it  is  supposed  that  things 
will  revert  to  their  original  condition ;  and  the  whole 
eventually  fall,  as  other  portions  of  India  have  done, 
under  the  direction  of  the  British  power. 

"  A  considerable  part  of  the  country  through  which 
Mr.  Lowrie  passed,  is  neither  fertile  nor  densely  popu- 
lated ;  but  the  vicinity  of  the  capital  was  covered  with 
luxuriant  wheat  and  fine  gardens,  extremely  fertile,  and 
adorned  with  the  beautiful  mango  and  tamarind  trees. 
Amritsir,  the  seat  of  Sikh  learning  and  devotion,  the 
resort  of   pilgrims,   and   the   site   of   a  beautiful   and 
picturesque  sacred  reservoir,  is  important  also,  as  the 
commercial  emporium  of  the  Punjab,  and  the  mart  of 
the  fine  fabrics  of  Cashmere ;  and  may  thus  be  regarded 
as  the  most  eligible  position  in  Labor  for  a  missionary 
station,  whenever  our  operations  in  that  quarter  shall 
demand  a  selection.     The  result  of  Mr.  Lowrie's  obser- 
vations, however,  would  seem,  for  the  present,  to  give  a 
decided  preference  to  the  population  of  the  Hill  prov- 
inces, as,  in  some  respects,  more  hkely  to  be  benefited 
by  missionary  efforts,  and  as  possessing  a  chmate  more 
favorable  to  the  health  of  missionaries.     The  people  are 
less  attached  to  caste  than  those  of  the  Plains,  and  to 
those  immoral  habits  and  customs  which  so  extensively 
abound  in  India ;  being  simple  in  their  habits  and  modes 
of  life,  devoted  to  agriculture,  and  combining  a  larger 
share  of  industry,  uprightness,  and  thoughtfulness  of 
character.     The  natural   productions  of  the  soil,  and 
consequently   the    staple    articles   of   subsistence,   cor- 


THE   WESTERJT   FOR.   MISS.    SOCIETY.  165 

respond  also  much  more  with  those  of  our  own  country ; 
and  this  fact,  while  it  might  promote  both  the  comfort 
and  the  health  of  our  missionaries,  would  enable  them 
to  transfer  to  this  simple-hearted  people,  and  introduce 
among  them,  many  of  the  improvements  in  agriculture 
and  horticulture  which  exist  in  their  native  land." 
The  Third  Annual  Report,  1835,  continues : 
"In  November  last,  a  second  reinforcement,  consist- 
ing of  Rev.  James  McEwen,  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Synod ;  Rev.  James  R.  Campbell,  of  the  Synod  of  the 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  with  their  wives ;  and 
Messrs.  William  Rogers  and  Joseph  Porter,  graduates  of 
Miami  University  ;  and  Mr.  Jesse  S.  Jamieson,  graduate 
of  Jefferson  College,  with  their  wives,  sailed  from  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  ship  CharUs  Wharton,  for  Calcutta ;  and, 
at  the  date  of  the  last  advices,  these  ten  brethren  and 
sisters,  with  Rev.  Messrs.  Winslow  and  Dwight,  and 
their  wives,  of  the  American  Board,  were  all" in'good 
health,  and  expected  to  reach  their  destined  port  about 
the  first  of  March  last.    Neither  of  the  three  last  named 
brethren  of  this  reinforcement  had  prosecuted  a  regular 
course   of    theological    education,   before   leaving   this 
country;   though   each   had   completed   his  academical 
course  with  uncommon  respectability,  as  to  scholarship 
and  correct  moral  and  religious  deportment.     From  in- 
formation previously  received,  and  of  high  authority, 
the  Committee  were  led  to  believe  that  these  brethren, 
by  spending  a  few  of  the  first  years  of  their  missionary 
labors  as  teachers,  in  the  higher  departments  of  educa- 
tion  in  India,  might  promote  the  great  object  of  its 
evangelization,  as  effectually  as  any  other;   and  that, 
while  an  entrance  upon  these  pursuits,  fresh  from  the 
studies  of  an  academic  education,  and  with  a  view  to 
enter  the  holy  ministry  as  soon  as  they  should  be  pre- 


156  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

pared  for  it,  and  the  progress  of  the  mission  might  de- 
mand it,  would  bring  them  more  speedily  into  active 
service,  it  would  not  materially  affect  their  prospective 
usefulness  as  ambassadors  of  Christ  to  the  heathen. 

''Two  printing-presses  and  fonts  of  type,  as  well 
in  the  Eoman  character  as  that  of  the  principal  lan- 
guages of  the  l^orthern  Provinces  of  Hindustan,  have 
in  the  meantime  been  sent  forward  ;  and  Mr.  Eeese 
Morris,  of  Philadelphia,  a  practical  printer,  with  his 
wife,  has  been  accepted  as  an  assistant  in  the  mission, 
and  is  expected  to  repair  to  India  with  the  next  rein- 
forcement. In  the  intervening  time,  provision  has 
been  made  to  employ  the  service  of  printers  on  the  spot, 
and  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  expense  of  this 
part  of  our  establishment  in  India  will  be  defrayed,  by 
the  publication  of  a  paper  about  to  be  estabhshed  by 
the  British  agent  at  Lodiana.  On  the  arrival  of  this 
reinforcement  at  the  station,  it  is  expected  that  the  mis- 
sionaries, after  all  due  inquiry  and  observation  has  been 
made,  will  so  divide  and  arrange  their  forces  as  to 
occupy  one  or  two  additional  positions. 

"  The  Eev.  Mr.  Lowrie,  having  suffered  considerably 
from  impaired  health  during  most  of  the  time  of  his 
residence  in  India,  and  having  been  advised  by  his 
physicians  to  return  and  spend  a  year  or  two  in  this 
country,  received  some  months  ago  from  the  Commit- 
tee permission  to  do  so,  and,  if  no  material  change 
should  have  since  occurred,  his  return  to  the  United 
States  may  be  anticipated  during  the  course  of  the  pres- 
ent year." 

[The  Fifth  Annual  Keport  of  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  May  1,  1837,  was  prepared  by  the 
Hon.  Walter  Lowrie.  He  succeeded  Dr.  Swift  as  Cor- 
responding Secretary  of  this  Society.     Born  in  Edin- 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  157 

burgh  in  1Y84,  he  was  in  his  father's  large  family  when 
they  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1792.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  assisted  his  father  in  a  saw- 
mill, to  wliich  a  flour-mill  was  afterwards  added,  in 
Butler  County,  Pennsylvania.  Becoming  an  earnest 
member  of  the  church,  he  engaged  in  studies  for  the 
ministry,  and  made  good  progress  in  learning  the  Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages ;  but  it  became  evident 
that  his  studies  should  be  laid  aside,  and  he  then  en- 
gaged in  teaching  a  school  in  the  county  town.  This 
led  to  his  becoming  known,  and  then  to  his  being 
elected  to  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania  repeatedly  for 
seven  years ;  he  was  then  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  1818-1824 ;  and  afterwards  as  Secretary  of 
the  United  States  Senate,  1821-1836. 

Under  the  usage  of  that  time  he  might  have  con- 
tinued to  occupy  this  office ;  but  he  resigned  it  to  be- 
come Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society.     He  had  at 
first  declined  this  appointment,  but  felt  constrained  to 
accept  it,  a  year  later,  on  its  being  renewed.     In  this 
new  sphere  of  duty  he  had  the  full  sympathy  and  pref- 
erence of  his  beloved  wife.     He  had  always  maintained 
his  religious  character  and  convictions.     It  was  in  this 
consecrated  life  that  consent  was  given  to  his  eldest  son, 
and  afterwards  to  two  younger  sons,  going  as  mission- 
aries.    In  the  case  of  the  first  he  felt  some  hesitation, 
partly  in  view  of  the  need  of  more  ministers  in  our 
own  country,  and  partly  for  reasons  of  health ;  but  after 
careful  thought  his  judgment  became  satisfied,  and  he 
encouraged  him  to  enter  on  this  work  for  Christ,  as  also 
in  the  case  of  his  younger  sons,  notwithstanding  the  deep 
personal  trial  of  these  separations.      His  final  accept- 
ance of  the  missionary  office  was  but  in  the  same  line 
of  Christian  duty.     He  continued   in   the  Missionary 


158  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

Secretaryship  until  his  death  in  1868-in  the  85th  year 

of  his  age. 

His  early  training  in  practical  work ;  his  year  of  theo- 
logical studies;  his  twenty-five  years  in  public  service ; 
his  membership  on  the  Senate's  Committee  on  Indian 
Affairs ;  his  sons'  questions  of  duty  as  to  missionary  life  ; 
his  relations  to  the  Church  of  Christ  as  a  member  and 
an  elder,  all  it  is  now  plam  were  tributary  to  his  great 
work  for  life.] 

Interesting  notices  concerning  India  are  taken  from 

this  Keport : 

"  This  most  extensive  of  the  missions  of  the  Society 
has  continued  to  enjoy  the  protection  and  blessing  of 
God.     The  only  adverse  circumstance  is  the  retm-n,  on 
account  of  ill  health,  of  the  Kev.  John  C.  Lowrie,  as 
intimated  in  the  last  report.     Mr.  Lowrie  left  Lodiana 
the  20th  January,  1836.     When  he  arrived  at  Calcutta, 
it  was  found  to  be  impracticable  to  obtain  a  passage  di- 
rect to  this  country,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  by 
way  of  England.     He  arrived  at  New  York  the  28th 
December  last.     Since  that  time  he  has  visited  a  num- 
ber of  the  churches,  making  known  the  wants  of  the 
heathen,  of  whose  perishing  condition  he  has  been  an 
eye-witness.      Should  his  health  be  restored,  it  is  his 
settled  purpose  to  return. 

"The  second  reinforcement  mentioned  in  the  last 
report,  consisting  of  Messrs.  McEwen,  Campbell,  Kog- 
ers,  Jamieson,  Porter,  and  their  wives,  reached  Calcutta 
in  safety  on  the  1st  of  April.  At  Madras  they  parted 
with  the  Kev.  Messrs.  Winslow  and  Dwight,  mission- 
aries  of  the  American  Board,  who  were  their  compan- 
ions in  the  voyage,  and  to  whom  they  had  become 
strongly  attached  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  love  and 
friendship.     The  joint  labors  of  these  brethren  on  the 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  159 

voyage  were  greatly  blessed  to  the  oflScers  and  sailors  of 
the  ship. 

"  On  landing  at  Calcutta  these  brethren  were  greatly 
encouraged  by  meeting  Mr.  Lowrie.  "With  his  assist- 
ance they  were  soon  accommodated  with  lodgings,  and 
on  the  27th  June  they  commenced  their  voyage  up 
the  river.  On  the  1st  November  they  had  nearly 
reached  their  destination,  with  the  exception  of  Mr, 
McEwen,  who  stopped  at  Allahabad  with  the  intention 
of  remaining  there  till  spring. 

"  The  Rev.  Messrs.  James  Wilson  and  John  !N"ewton 
occupy  the  station  at  Lodiana.  Besides  the  usual  mis- 
sionary labors,  they  have  under  their  care  the  school 
first  established  at  that  station  by  the  British  Political 
Agent,  Capt.  Wade,  but  afterwards  transferred  to  the 
care  and  direction  of  the  mission.  Capt.  Wade  is  still 
its  efficient  patron,  and  the  school  at  present  gives  high 
promise  of  service  in  the  cause  of  the  Eedeemer.  It 
consists  of  between  forty  and  fifty  youth,  most  of  them 
from  the  first  families.  In  this  school  everything  which 
human  means  can  provide  is  afforded  for  raising  up  an 
educated  and  qualified  native  ministry ;  and  the  Com- 
mittee ask  their  fellow-Christians  to  join  with  them  in 
daily  prayer  in  pleading  the  promise  of  the  Saviour 
(Luke  xi.  9-13)  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the 
hearts  of  these  youth.  At  this  station  are  two  printing- 
presses  belonging  to  the  Society. 

"  Besides  Lodiana,  two  other  stations — Sabathu  and 
Saharunpur — have  been  selected,  to  be  occupied  by  the 
last  reinforcement. 

"  Sabathu,  distant  110  miles  northeast  from  Lodiana, 
is  situated  on  the  lower  elevation  of  the  Himalaya 
mountains,  4,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
Between  the  snowy  ranges  of  these  mountains  and  the 


160  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

plains  of  India  there  is  an  intervening  tract  of  country, 
having  an  avei'age  breadth  of  about  sixty  miles,  which, 
though  mountainous  in  its  character,  is  yet  capable  of 
cultivation  to  a  considerable  extent.  A  district  in  this 
hilly  region,  200  miles  in  length,  with  a  population  of 
250,000,  is  under  the  control  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany. Sabathu  is  one  of  their  military  stations,  and  is 
considered  an  eligible  point  in  regard  to  health,  com- 
munication with  other  places,  and  general  convenience 
for  commencing  the  system  of  effort  by  which  the 
Gospel  is  to  be  established  over  those  mountain 
tribes. 

"Saharunpur,  distant  130  miles  southeast  from  Lodi- 
ana,  100  miles  north  of  Delhi,  is  situated  within  20 
miles  of  Hurdwar,  that  great  rendezvous  of  pilgrims 
from  all  the  surrounding  nations.  The  annual  fair  at 
Hurdwar  is  attended  by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  all 
classes ;  and  hitherto,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  tran- 
sient visits  of  a  single  missionary  from  Delhi,  Satan  has 
had  the  undisputed  possession  of  this  great  field  to  him- 
self. No  place  affords  more  advantages  for  the  dissemi- 
nation of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  and  religious  publica- 
tions than  the  fair  at  Hurdwar.  From  this  point  they 
will  be  carried  into  the  surrounding  countries,  and  to 
all  parts  of  Northern  India,  and  even  to  the  tribes 
beyond  Cashmere,  inhabiting  the  high  table-lands  of 
Central  Asia. 

"  The  Committee  expected  to  have  sent,  early  in  the 
spring,  to  this  important  field,  four  additional  mission- 
aries. The  Rev.  Henry  E.  Wilson,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Reese 
Morris,  Jr.,  a  printer ;  and  from  the  Reformed  Presby- 
terian Church  the  Rev.  Joseph  Caldwell  and  Mr.  James 
Craig,  a  teacher.  But,  owing  to  the  want  of  funds, 
this  reinforcement  has  been  postponed  till  the  coming 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.  MISS.   SOCIETY.  161 

fall.  To  it  will  then  be  added  the  Kev.  John  H.  Mor- 
rison." 

It  may  be  proper  to  add  here,  that,  agreeably  to  the 
intimation  given  above,  these  missionaries  sailed  for 
India  in  October,  1837. 

"  At  Lodiana  there  are  residing  at  present,  under  the 
protection  of  the  British  Government,  two  exiled  kings 
from  Afghanistan,  who  have  their  followers  with  them 
to  the  number  of  2,000  or  upward.  There  are  also 
more  than  3,500  Cashmerians  residing  at  that  station, 
and  many  at  other  towns  in  Upper  India,  who  were 
driven  from  their  native  valley  by  famine  and  by  the 
oppression  of  their  rulers.  They  are  employed  in  manu- 
facturing the  fine  fabrics  for  which  their  country  is  so 
celebrated,  and  they  retain  the  language  and  the  usages 
of  the  tribe  of  the  Hindu  family  to  which  they  belong. 
Owing  to  the  residence  of  these  people  at  the  principal 
missionary  station,  every  opportunity  is  afforded  of  learn- 
ing the  language  of  those  countries,  and  among  them 
making  known  the  way  of  forgiveness  of  sins  through 
the  risen  Saviour.  The  opening  of  Divine  Providence, 
in  thus  bringing  such  large  portions  of  two  nations  who 
have  never  heard  of  Christ  to  the  very  door  of  mission- 
ary operations,  was  too  plain  to  be  neglected.  One  of 
the  brethren  of  the  next  reinforcement  will  be  appointed 
a  missionary  to  Cashmere,  and  another  of  them  to 
Afghanistan.  Until  they  have  learned  the  respective 
languages,  these  brethren  will  reside  at  Lodiana,  and  in 
every  way  endeavor  to  promote  the  best  interests  of 
those  to  whom  they  are  sent. 

"Mr.  Morris  will  take  charge  of  the  printing-presses, 
and  the  two  other  brethren  will  occupy  Ambala,  Sir- 
hind,  or  some  of  the  other  stations  in  the  vicinity. 

"  The  foregoing  relation  of  facts  and  circumstances, 


162  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

if  there  were  no  others,  shows  the  importance  of  this 
region  as  a  missionary  field ;  but  the  half  has  not  been 
told. 

"  It  is  a  ground  of  no  small  encouragement,  that  here 
at  least  a  Protestant  mission  has  been  planted,  in  ad- 
vance of  the  missionaries  of  the  Pope  of  Rome.  Here 
too  are  the  missionaries  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
hilly  country,  to  which  the  sick  and  the  invalid,  with- 
out leaving  missionary  ground,  may  resort  for  health. 
On  the  west  is  the  large  and  populous  kingdom  of  the 
Punjab ;  with  a  population  very  similar  to  that  among 
which  the  present  stations  are  placed.  On  the  borders 
of  the  Punjab  are  Cashmere  and  Afghanistan,  those 
keys  to  the  tribes  inhabiting  Central  Asia.  ISTorth  and 
northeast  from  Lodiana,  in  the  valleys  stretching  far 
into  the  recesses  of  the  Himalaya  mountains,  are  numer- 
ous tribes  of  Hindus,  not  more  remarkable  for  their 
industry  than  for  their  quiet  demeanor,  the  simplicity 
of  their  habits,  and  the  almost  imperceptible  change 
which  time  has  made  upon  their  national  customs. 
Stretching  far  to  the  southeast,  between  the  snowy 
mountains  and  the  plains,  embracing  the  secondary 
range  of  the  Himalaya  mountains,  is  the  kingdom  of 
Nepaul.  On  the  south  is  Eajpootana;  and  on  the 
southwest,  on  both  sides  of  the  Indus,  are  tribes  and 
people  like  the  others,  '  having  no  hope,  and  without 
God  in  the  world.'  In  all  these  populous  nations,  the 
blessed  Saviour,  and  life  and  salvation  through  his 
name,  are  unknown.  'Not  a  single  missionary  of  the 
cross  is  there ;  and  the  people  are  sitting  in  the  region 
and  shadow  of  death.  In  view  of  this  entire  destitu- 
tion of  the  bread  of  life,  what  Christian,  in  his  daily 
prayer  of  '  Thy  kingdom  come,'  will  not  bear  before  the 
mercy-seat  the  youth  now  under  a  course  of  Christian 


THE  WESTERI^  FOR.   MISS.  SOCIETY.  163 

instruction,  in  the  very  centre  of  these  regions,  thus 
covered  with  the  pall  of  death.  Oh,  for  the  time! 
when  the  Church  will  '  with  one  accord  '  plead  for  those 
blessings,  without  which  all  will  be  in  vain.  But  to 
assist  in  thus  training  up  a  native  ministry,  and  above 
all  to  preach  the  Gospel,  whom  will  the  Committee  send 
to  say  to  them,  'Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world  '  ?  And  where  are  the  indi- 
viduals and  the  churches,  who  will  support  those  now 
waiting,  and  the  others  who,  from  time  to  time,  are  of- 
fering themselves  willingly  to  this  blessed  work  ? " 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  Mission  in  :N'orthern  India 
occupies  four  stations,  viz.: 

1.  LoDiANA.— Rev.  John  Kewton,  Rev.  Henry  R, 
Wilson,  Jr.,  Mr.  Joseph  Porter,  Mr.  Reese  Morris,  Jr., 
and  their  wives.  The  Rev.  John  C.  Lowrie,  on  a'visit 
to  the  United  States. 

At  this  station  is  the  High-school,  in  a  state  of  much 
promise,  containing  fifty-eight  scholars ;  a  female  board- 
ing-school just  commencing;  and  a  printing-press,  with 
fonts  of  English,  Persian,  and  Gurmukhi  type.  As  this 
is  at  present  their  principal  station  in  Northern  India, 
the  Rev.  Henry  R.  Wilson,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Reese  Morris,' 
Jr.,^  printer  and  book-binder,  who  have  recently  left  the 
United  States,  are  to  be  stationed  there,  with  the  large 
printing-press  now  in  India. 

2.  Sabathu.— Rev.  James  Wilson,  Mr.Wm.  S.  Rog- 
ers, and  their  wives. 

Mrs.  Wilson  has  an  interesting  school  of  Gurkha  girls. 
It  is  uncertain  that  they  will  continue  their  attendance ; 
so  far  the  prospect  is  encouraging. 

3.  Saharunpue.— Rev.  James  R.  Campbell,  Rev. 
Joseph  Caldwell,  Mr.  Jesse  M.  Jamieson,  and  their 
wives. 


164  PKESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

At  tliis  station  is  a  boarding  and  common  school,  sup- 
ported by  the  Juvenile  Missionary  Society  of  tbe  First 
Keformed  Presbyterian  Church  in  Pbikdelphia.  Mr. 
Campbell  is  a  minister  in  connection  with  the  Eeformed 
Presbyterian  Chnrch. 

4.  Allahabad.— Kev.  James  McEwen,  Rev.  John  H. 
Morrison,  Mr.  James  Craig,  and  their  wives. 

As  this  is  an  important  station,  the  Rev.  John  H. 
Morrison,  and  Mr.  James  Craig,  who  have  recently  sailed 
for  India,  weie  instructed  to  join  it. 

At  this  station  is  a  large  boarding-school,  which,^  for 
want  of  funds,  the  Executive  Committee  were  obliged 
to  reduce  to  twenty  scholars.  A  printing-press  will  be 
wanted  there  the  ensuing  year. 

Mr.  Craig  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church,  as  is  also  the  Rev.  Joseph  Caldwell ;  the  whole 
amount  of  his  outfit,  passage  to  India,  and  support  for 
one  year,  have  been  provided  by  that  church. 

[In  the  company  of  missionaries  who  arrived  at  Cal- 
cutta in  1836,  was  the  Rev.  James  R.  Campbell,  after- 
ward D.D.,  with  his  wife,  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church,  General  Synod.  He  and  two  laymen  were  ap- 
pointed by  special  agreement,  not  between  the  two 
churches,  but  between  the  societies,  the  Western  and 
the  Reformed,  on  the  same  basis  as  to  their  missionary 
relations  to  the  former  with  that  of  its  other  missionaries. 
Among  the  leading  members  of  the  Reformed  Mission- 
ary Society  in  Philadelphia,  were  the  Rev.  Dr.  T.  W.  J. 
Wylie,  and  the  late  Mr.  George  H.  Stuart,— the  former 
secretary,  the  latter  treasurer.  The  former  is  still  min- 
ister of  the  same  church,  in  later  years  connected  with 
the  Presbyterian  body ;  the  latter,  an  elder  in  the  same 
church,  was  distinguished  as  the  leader  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission  Service,  and  as  active  in  all  good  work— 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  165 

especially,  as  was  his  friend  and  pastor,  in  that  of  missions  ; 
both  brethren  efficient  and  beloved. 

Dr.  Campbell  was  spared  for  many  years  of  faithful 
work  in  India.  He  was  held  in  honor  by  all  who  knew 
him  ;  he  was  a  warm-hearted  and  devoted  missionary. 
Other  brethren  were  sent  out  by  this  Society  in  subse- 
quent years,  whose  names  will  appear  at  the  date  of  their 
appointment,  and  whose  pecuniary  support  was  provided 
by  the  same  joint  arrangement.  But  Providential  changes 
eventually  terminated,  or  rather  rendered  simpler,  this 
joint  method ;  and  most  of  the  E..  P.  missionaries  be- 
came members  of  the  same  Presbyteries  with  their  breth- 
ren of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Rev.  James  McEwen  and  his  wife  were  of  the 
company  who  arrived  at  Calcutta  in  1836.  He  was  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia ;  his  wife  was 
of  a  well-known  and  a  highly  esteemed  family  in  that 
city.  He  was  a  minister  of  marked  ability  in  the  pulpit, 
and  was  encouraged  in  his  labors  at  Allahabad.  After 
two  years  his  health  gave  way,  and  he  and  his  consecrated 
wife  returned  to  this  country.  His  course  at  home  as 
a  pastor  was  not  long  afterwards  ended  by  his  death.] 

MISSION  TO         The  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  at  their  annual 
THB  WESTERN  meeting  in  October,  1833,  adopted  the  res- 

iNDiANs.  olution  to  sustain  The  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  "  in  attempting  the  immediate  sup- 
ply of  every  unsupplied  and  accessible  tribe  of  the  West- 
ern Indian  Reservation,  with  the  means  of  grace  ";  and 
they  were  greatly  encouraged  in  this  benevolent  purpose, 
by  the  favorable  disposition  of  the  general  government 
at  that  period,  in  regard  to  the  civilization  of  the  aborig- 
ines of  our  country.  In  execution  of  the  resolution 
passed  by  the  Synod,  the  Society,  in  the  following  sum- 
mer, engaged  the  Rev.  William  D.  Smith,  one  of  the 


166  PRESBYTEEIAT!^  MISSIONS. 

two  missionaries  then  under  the  direction  of  the  Society, 
to  undertake  an  exploring  mission  through  the  Indian 
territories  west  of  the  Mississippi.  He  accordingly  spent 
most  of  the  summer  in  visiting  and  conferring  with  the 
Shawnees,  Delawares,  Kickapoos,  Kansas,  Ottawas,Weas, 
lowas,  and  Omawhaws ;  and  the  results  of  his  explora- 
tion were  approved  by  the  Executive  Committee.  It 
was  finally  determined  to  select  the  Weas,  as  the  tribe 
among  whom  operations  should  be  commenced ;  and  ar- 
rangements were  made  to  despatch  a  mission  to  that 
station  in  the  month  of  November  following.  Accord- 
ingly on  the  4th  of  that  month,  the  Kev.  Joseph  Kerr 
and  the  Rev.  "Wells  Bushnell  and  their  wives,  with 
Miss  Nancy  Henderson  and  Miss  Martha  Boal,  were  duly 
organized  as  a  mission  family,  and  shortly  after  set  out 
for  the  place  of  their  destination.  After  experiencing 
some  disasters  in  their  journey,  one  of  which  became  the 
accelerating  cause  of  such  a  state  of  impaired  health,  in 
respect  to  Miss  Boal,  as  made  it  necessary  to  leave  her 
on  the  way,  the  missionaries  arrived  at  Independence, 
a  town  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  about  forty  miles  east  of 
the  Wea  village,  on  the  21st  of  December ;  and  they  con- 
cluded to  pass  the  winter  there.  They  did  so,  occasion- 
ally visiting  the  Indians  and  making  preparations  for  the 
commencement  of  more  regular  labors  in  the  spring. 
They  preached  to  those  whom  they  visited,  by  an  inter- 
preter ;  and  obtained  much  useful  information  relative 
to  their  state  and  character.  Mr.  Henry  Bradley,  a 
young  man  whom  the  Committee  had  accepted  as  an  as- 
sistant in  the  agricultural  department,  was  sent  on  with 
supplies  to  the  mission,  in  the  spring.  The  Wea  Indians 
are  a  small  tribe ;  but  they  at  once  manifested  a  disposi- 
tion to  receive  and  treat  the  missionaries  with  respect 
and  kindness ;  so  that  during  the  first  summer  and  au- 


THE  WESTERN"  FOR.  MISS.    SOCIETY.  167 

tumn  after  their  location,  besides  erecting  a  school-house, 
finisliing  their  own  dwellings,  and  making  preparations  to 
till  a  small  farm,  they  opened  a  school  for  the  children  of 
the  natives,  and  collected  the  Indians  for  public  and 
social  worship,  as  often  as  circumstances  would  permit. 
Miss  Henderson  opened  and  taught  an  infant  Indian 
school ;  and  Mr.  Kerr  and  his  associate  prosecuted  their 
respective  labors  with  great  diligence.  At  the  formation 
of  a  Temperance  Society,  although  at  first  somewhat  dis- 
couraged by  the  reluctance  manifested  by  many  of  the 
"Weas  to  give  the  pledges  of  total  abstinence,  they  were 
subsequently  agreeably  surprised,  when  two  of  the  tribe, 
not  formerly  present,  came  forward,  without  solicitation, 
and  requested  their  names  to  be  entered. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  the  Fourth 
Annual  Report  in  1836  : 

"The  Mission  to  theTVea  Indians  is  located  in  the 
eastern  border  of  the  reserved  tract  allotted  to  the  emi- 
grant  Indians;  and  may  be  properly  said  to  comprise 
two  stations,  about  four  miles  distant  from  each  other. 
Our  excellent  missionary,  Eev.  Joseph  Kerr,  and  Messrs. 
Lindsay  and  Bradley,  with  Mrs.  Kerr,  Mrs.  Lindsay, 
and  Miss  Henderson,  comprise  the  present  members  of 
the  mission.  During  the  last  summer,  the  schools  were 
fuller  and  better  attended  than  at  any  former  period, 
and  the  prospects  of  usefulness  flattering. 

"  The  Weas,  though  not  numerous,  are  an  interesting 
people,  and  have  uniformly  manifested  a  disposition 
gratefully  to  receive  instruction ;  and  this  mission  has, 
during  the  last  year,  enjoyed  special  tokens  of  the  divine 
favor.  Besides  a  growing  and  very  encouraging  atten- 
tion to  the  means  of  grace  on  the  part  of  the  Indians, 
and  visible  improvement  in  their  morals  generally,  our 
brethren  have  been  rejoiced  to  witness  the  manifestations 


168  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

of  the  special  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Early  in 
the  last  winter,  it  pleased  the  All-wise  Disposer  of  events 
suddenly  to  remove  by  death,  one  of  the  most  promising 
of  the  young  men  of  that  tribe,  under  circumstances 
which  gave  encouraging  evidence  to  the  missionaries  of 
his  interest  in  Christ.  More  recently,  a  church  has  been 
organized,  to  which  five  native  converts  have  been  ad- 
mitted, and  fifteen  or  twenty  more  are  supposed  to  be 
the  subjects  of  religious  impression.  One  of  the  native 
converts,  a  man  advanced  in  years,  with  locks  whitened 
with  age,  burst  into  tears,  and  indeed  into  loud  weeping, 
as,  in  the  act  of  receiving  the  ordinance  of  Christian 
baptism,  he  publicly  submitted  himself  to  the  authority 
of  Jesus  Christ;  and  these  events,  taken  collectively, 
seem  to  have  produced  a  general  excitement  among  the 
whole  of  that  tribe  of  Indians ;  some  becoming  warmly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  mission,  and  others  aroused  to 
resist  its  progress.  Speaking  of  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  venerable  chiefs  of  that  tribe,  and  in  connection 
with  a  small  prayer-meeting  held  at  the  mission-house, 
Mr.  Kerr  states,  that,  after  each  had  led  in  the  devotions, 
old  Kemassa  knelt  down  and  offered  an  apparently  fer- 
vent supplication  in  his  own  language,  on  the  very  spot 
where,  one  year  before,  he  lay  upon  the  floor  in  a  state 
of  stupid  and  helpless  intoxication.  The  progress  of 
reformation  and  of  saving  conversion  to  God  among 
these  unhappy  remnants  of  our  border  tribes,  must  neces- 
sarily be  connected  with  many  formidable  obstacles ;  and 
we  are  not  surprised  that  our  missionary  brethren,  with 
these  pleasing  indications  of  success  in  their  benevolent 
work,  begin  also  to  experience  the  opposition  of  the 
more  debased  part  of  the  natives  whom  they  are  striving 
to  turn  to  God." 


THE   WESTERN   FOR.    MISS.    SOCIETY.  169 

From  the  Fifth  Annual  Report  in  1837  we  take  the 
following  quotation  : 

"  The  Wca  tribe  of  Indians  have  greatly  profited  by 
the  labors  bestowed  upon  them.  A  church  containing 
ten  native  members  has  been  formed  in  the  wilderness, 
and  the  hearts  of  the  missionaries  have  been  encouraged 
by  thus  early  seeing  the  blessing  of  God  on  their  labors, 
among  this  solitary,  degraded,  and  neglected  people. 

"  Since  the  commencement  of  the  mission,  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Kerr  and  his  wife  have  been  at  this  station.  The 
time  of  Miss  Nancy  Henderson  was  divided  between  the 
"Weas  and  the  loways.  During  the  last  year  the  health 
of  Mrs.  Kerr  was  so  reduced  by  sickness,  that,  in  the 
opinion  of  her  physicians,  nothing  but  a  change  of  resi- 
dence and  climate  gave  the  least  hope  of  recovery. 
Early  in  the  winter,  while  her  husband  remained  among 
the  Indians,  she  returned  to  her  father's.  But  the 
change  has  not  restored  her  health ;  and  owing  to  her 
continued  illness,  Mr.  Kerr  has  been  induced  to  ask  a 
dismission  from  the  service  of  the  Society,  which  has 
been  granted.  He  will  remain  at  the  station  till  the 
reinforcement  lately  sent  out  arrives.  On  the  l-lth  of 
March  Mr.  Henry  Bradley  and  his  wife,  and  Mr.  James 
Duncan,  left  Pittsburgh  for  the  Wea  Mission  Station. 
Miss  Henderson,  who  during  part  of  the  winter  had 
been  on  a  visit  to  her  sick  mother,  since  deceased,  will 
join  them  the  first  suitable  opportunity. 
THE  IOWA  "  The  Iowa  Mission  comprises  but  one  sta- 
MissioN.  tion,  established  among  a  considerable  division 
of  the  tribe  of  that  name,  about  eighty-five  miles  from 
the  Weas.  It  consists  at  present  of  Mr.  A.  Ballard  and 
wife,  and  Mr.  E.  M.  Sheppard.  Two  or  three  schools 
were  sustained  during  most  of  the  last  summer  (lS34r); 
and  when  the  missionaries  have  found  it  impracticable 


170  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

regularly  to  assemble  tlie  cliildren  together,  they  have 
spent  most  of  each  day  in  going  from  lodge  to  lodge 
through  the  village,  and  giving  to  their  pupils  in  each 
family  their  stated  lessons,  accompanying  them  with  suit- 
able instructions  to  the  parents  and  other  members  of  the 
family.  The  lowas,  like  other  tribes,  have  been  much 
addicted  to  the  excessive  and  ruinous  use  of  ardent 
spirits.  But  the  mission  has  already  been  highly  serv- 
iceable in  arresting  the  progress  and  diminishing  the 
evils  of  this  vice ;  and  the  missionaries  have  been  a  good 
deal  encouraged  by  the  apparent  desire  on  the  part  of 
many  to  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  God. 

"  During  the  last  year,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ballard  have  de- 
voted their  whole  time  to  the  loway  Indians.  Miss 
Henderson  during  part  of  the  summer  was  engaged 
teaching  the  children.  Great  difficulties  were  experi- 
enced on  account  of  the  uncertainty  of  their  residence. 
Under  an  arrangement  made  by  the  government,  the 
lowas  will  remove  this  spring  from  their  present  loca- 
tion to  the  south  of  the  Missouri  River,  where  400  sec- 
tions have  been  assigned  to  them  and  the  little  band  of 
the  Sacs  of  the  Missouri,  between  the  great  Kemahaw 
and  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Kickapoos.  The 
mission  family  have  been  instructed  to  accompany  them, 
and  as  their  home  is  now  considered  permanent,  the 
difficulties  growing  out  of  an  uncertain  and  temporary 
residence  will  cease.  On  the  14tli  of  March  Mr.  Samuel 
M.  Irvin  and  his  wife  left  Pittsburgh  to  occuj)y  the 
new  station  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ballard. 

"  From  information  which  they  have  been  enabled  to 
obtain,  the  Committee  believe  that  the  policy  of  the 
Board  in  the  establishment  of  missions  among  our 
Western  Indians  should  contemplate  a  speedy  extension 
of  its  efforts  to  those  more  numerous  and  distant  tribes, 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.  MISS.   SOCIETY.  171 

which  reside  near  the  sources  of  the  Missouri  and  its 
tributary  waters.  Those  people  are  far  less  debased  and 
contaminated  by  the  borrowed  vices  and  bad  example 
of  our  frontier  settlements.  They  are  comparative 
strangers  to  the  use  of  ardent  spirits;  and  many  of 
them,  it  is  understood,  are  well  inclined  towards  the 
great  objects  of  missionary  effort." 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  mission  to  the  Western  Indi- 
ans consists  of  two  stations ;  which,  by  the  last  statement 
of  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  stand  as  follows: 

1.  Wea  Station. — Rev.  John  Fleming,  Mr.  James 
Duncan,  Mr.  Henry  Bradley,  and  Mrs.  Bradley. 

The  Church  at  this  station  consists  of  twelve  native 
members  and  a  number  of  others  seriously  inquiring  the 
way  to  be  saved. 

2.  Iowa  Station.— Rev.  William  Hamilton,  Mr.  Au- 
rey  Ballard,  Mr.  Samuel  M.  Irviu,  and  Miss  Nancy 
Henderson. 

During  the  last  year  this  tribe  sold  their  land  to  the 
United  States,  and  have  received  other  land  in  exchange. 
They  have  removed  and  are  now  settled — permanently, 
it  is  expected — at  their  new  home. 
MISSION       This  mission  is  not  at  present  in  operation. 

TO  It  seems  proper,  however,  that  the  substance 
SMTRNA.  of  the  statement  relative  to  it  contained  in  the 
last  Report  of  the  Society,  should  be  inserted  in  this 
sketch.     It  is  contained  in  the  following  extract : 

"  The  Rev.  Josiah  Brewer  and  Mr.  Thomas  Brown,  a 
printer,  and  his  wife,  as  mentioned  in  the  last  report, 
sailed  from  New  York  the  2Sth  of  March,  1836,  and 
arrived  at  Smyrna  in  May  following.  They  took 
with  them  a  printing-press  and  a  set  of  book-binder's 
instruments.  During  the  last  winter  the  Rev.  Wm. 
McCombs  and  Mr.  John  McClintock  and  their  wives, 


172  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

were  set  apart  for  this  field  of  labor,  and  expected  to 
sail  in  the  first  vessel  leaving  the  United  States.  When 
this  reinforcement  were  on  the  eve  of  their  departure, 
Mr.  Brown  was  found  very  unexpectedly  to  have 
returned  to  this  country,  having  left  the  station  with- 
out apprising  the  Committee  of  his  wish  or  intention  to 
do  so.  The  unauthorized,  and  as  the  Committee 
judged,  unnecessary  return  of  Mr.  Brown,  and  his 
ceasing  on  this  account  to  be  longer  connected  with 
them,  made  some  other  measures  on  the  part  of  the 
Committee  necessary,  and  brought  under  their  review 
the  whole  subject  of  their  mission  to  Asia  Minor. 

"  Their  connection  with  Mr.  Brewer  was  on  the  con- 
dition that  some  responsible  board  or  association  should 
assume  his  support,  but  no  such  arrangement  had  been 
reported  to  the  Committee,  or  was  known  to  exist. 
Much  dissatisfaction  with  this  connection  existed  in  the 
minds  of  many  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
view  of  which  Mr.  Brewer  had  signified  his  willingness 
that  his  connection  with  the  Society  should  be  dissolved 
if  thought  expedient.  Under  all  these  circumstances, 
the  Committee,  whilst  they  entertain  for  Mr.  Brewer 
sincere  and  Christian  regard,  and  a  desire  for  his  suc- 
cess and  usefulness  in  the  missionary  field,  deemed  it 
best  and  most  expedient  that  the  contemplated  connec- 
tion between  him  and  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  should  be  finally  abandoned.  Though  not  under 
their  direction,  the  Committee  hope  his  valuable  labors 
may  still  be  continued  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  they 
will  always  rejoice  to  hear  that  his  efforts  in  this  import- 
ant field  have  been  owned  and  blessed  by  the  Head  of 
the  Church. 

"  It  will  probably  be  found  expedient  to  assign  one, 
if  not  both  of  the  missionaries,  who  have  been  prevented 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.  MISS.  SOCIETY.  173 

from  going  to  Smyrna  by  the  want  of  funds,  to  some 
other  field  of  labor,  where  the  door  of  usefulness  is  more 
open  and  the  call  for  assistance  more  pressing." 
MISSION  The  remarks  in  the  last,  or  Fifth  Annual  E.e- 
To  port  of  the  Society,  in  May,  1837,  introductory  to 
CHINA,  the  notice  of  the  appointment  of  this  mission,  are 
so  important  in  themselves,  and  so  necessary  to  be  known 
and  appreciated  throughout  the  whole  Presbyterian 
Church  at  the  present  time,  that  it  has  been  determined 
to  quote  the  whole,  although  of  a  length,  which,  but  for 
the  considerations  stated,  would  render  it  improper  to 
insert  them  in  this  sketch.  Immediately  after  announcing 
the  mission  to  China,  the  report  proceeds  as  follows : 

"This  great  people — not  more  remarkable  for  the 
extent  of  their  territory  and  the  number  of  their  popu- 
lation than  for  their  entire  ignorance  of  the  true  God — 
have  of  late  engaged  the  thoughts  of  professing  Chris- 
tians in  all  parts  of  our  country.  The  remarkable  fact 
that  one-fourth,  or  perhaps  one-third  of  the  human  race, 
read  one  language,  ought  long  ere  now  to  have  called 
for  the  exertion  of  every  friend  of  missions  and  of  the 
Bible  to  give  to  them  that  blessed  Book  in  numbers 
somewhat  proportionable  to  the  demand.  But  alas,  a 
few  small  editions  of  the  Chinese  Bible  is  the  entire  sup- 
ply for  these  hundreds  of  millions.  The  missionary  and 
tract  societies  of  our  own  and  other  countries  have  of 
late  years  been  most  usefully  employed  in  furnishing 
tracts  and  Scripture  histories ;  but  all  that  has  yet  been 
done  cannot  bear  any  comparison  to  what  is  yet  wanted. 
The  impression  that  China  is  closed  to  missionary  exer- 
tions seems  yet  to  rest  like  an  incubus  on  the  minds  of 
Christians,  and  to  paralyze  and  throw  doubt  on  every 
exertion  in  her  behalf.  China  is  closed  in  some  respects, 
but  China  is  open  and  waiting  for  the  Gospel  in  others. 


i 


174  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS.     / 

The  Government  of  China,  fearful  of  Eurj^pgan  politics, 
and  still  remembering  the  intrigues  of  tl\e  agents  of  the 
Church  of  Eome,  have  forbidden  the  ?{-esidence  of  for- 
eigners within  their  limits  except  at  one,  designated  point. 
The  Government  do  not  permit  eve^  their  language  to 
be  taught,  nor  their  books  to  be  soldAo  foreigners.  They 
forbid  also  the  reading  of  any  book-g  brought  by  foreign- 
ers. They  permit  no  schools  to  K^^.  taught  by  them,  nor 
printing-presses  to  be  estabhshfed.  New  edicts  make 
their  appearance  from  time  }(o  time,  but  these  prohibi- 
tions are  of  long  standing^/  ]V[otwithstanding  these 
measures,  the  people  of  (^ina  are  anxious  to  receive 
our  religious,  scientific,  ^^^^  historical  books;  and  if, 
instead  of  five  thousand  ,^^opies  of  the  Bible,  we  had  half 
a  milhon,  and  prudent,  and  qualified  men  to  distribute 
them,  it  would  not  be^  long  before  they  would  be  in  cir- 
culation in  the  most-  thickly-settled  part  of  the  empire. 
All  the  mandarins  -"^nd  all  the  military  officers  could  not 
prevent  their  teerr  ^jng  millions  from  receiving  and  read- 
ing them.  It  ij.^1  becomes  the  Church  to  be  discouraged 
till  the  missioy^aries  abroad  report  to  them  that  nothing 
more  can  be  done.  In  other  respects,  China  is  open  and 
perfectly  a/^.cessible  to  missionary  labors.  In  every  isl- 
and in  t^jg  Eastern  Archipelago  Chinese  emigrants  are 
to  be  fo];^n(i^  mostly  residing  together ;  and  only  men  of 
a  right,  spirit,  sustained  by  the  prayers  and  the  contribu- 
tions, of  the  churches,  are  wanted  to  carry  to  these 
acce^'^sible  perishing  thousands  the  bread  of  life, 
"^^^ise  emigrants,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  are  con- 
^7cted  with  the  population  at  home;  many  are  con- 
^^fcantly  coming  and  returning,  and  thus  affording  facili- 
/ties  and  opportunities  to  disseminate  printed  books  to  a 
great  extent.  The  hundreds  of  thousands  of  the  Chi- 
nese population,  engaged  in  fishing  far  out  of  sight  of 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  175 

land  and  in  large  companies  together,  ought  neither  to 
be  overlooked  nor  neglected.  The  attempt  to  supply 
them  with  printed  or  oral  instruction  might  not  in  all 
cases  be  permitted,  because  the}-  are  for  the  most  part 
accompanied  by  war-boats.  But  let  the  trial  be  made. 
It  may  be  found  that  these  very  war-boats  will  be  the 
first  to  receive  the  words  of  life. 

"Heretofore  the  Chinese   printing  has  been  almost 
entirely  performed  in  the  Chinese  manner,  on  blocks  of 
wood.     The  preparation  of  these  blocks  requires  the 
employment  of  Chinese  artists.     Hence,  nothing  could 
be  done  without  their  assistance.    The  Chinese  language 
has  no  alphabet,  every  character  represents  either  a  word 
or  an  idea.     Their  number  is  estimated  by  Dr.  Marsh- 
man  at  30,000.    The  expense  of  preparing  steel  punches 
and  matrices  for  such  a  number  would  be  so  great,  that 
till  lately,  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  supply  the  whole.' 
Besides  the  expense,  the  difficulty  of  arranging  30,000 
different  characters  in  a  printing-office,  so  as  to  be  man- 
ageable  by  the  printer,  is  seen  at  once  to  be  too  great 
for  practical  purposes.     The  Ecv.  Mr.  Dyer  at  Penang 
has  been  for  some  time  engaged  with  good  success  in 
preparing  steel  punches  and  matrices  for  two  or  three 
thousand  of  the  characters  most  in  use.     These  types 
when  prepared  can  be  used  in  the  common  printing- 
press,  and  even  that  number  of  characters  will  afford 
great   facility  in  Chinese  printing.      Still,  it   is   most 
desirable  that  when  the  missionaries  have  acquired  a  full 
knowledge  of  the  language,  they  should  have  the  advan- 
tage of  using  any  character  in  it  they  might  prefer  in 
translating  or  explaining  the  Bible  or  in  writing  their 
other  publications.     This  most  important  discovery  has 
quite  lately  been  made.     More  than  thirty  years  ago 
Dr.  Marshman  discovered   that  most  of  the   Chinese 


176  PEESBYTERIAK  MISSIONS. 

characters  consisted  of  two  elements,  which  he  called 
formath^es^r.d.:primitives.    He  pointed  out  this  prm- 
ciple  to  the  student  of  the  language  with  great  clearness, 
as  one  of   great  importance  for  him  to  know.      Vv, 
Marshman  does  not  seem  to  have  been  aware  how  very 
important  this  discovery  was  in  relation  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  body  of  metal  type  for  the  whole  language. 
Pursuing  the  subject  with  the  hght  thus  afforded  by 
this  venerable  and  able  missionary,  the  Chinese  scholars 
in  Paris  carried  it  one  step  further,  in  reference  solely 
to  printing.     They  divided  the  whole  language  mto  two 
classes  of  difvisiUe  and  indivisible  characters,  and  by  a 
careful  examination  of  the  divisible  characters,  and  a 
reduction  of  them  to  their  most  simple  elements    it 
appeared  that,  with  9,000  punches  and  matrices,  the 
whole  30,000  characters  can  be  formed.     By  arranging 
and  numbering  these  9,000  elements  under  their  respect- 
ive keys,  the  whole  presents  but  little  more  difficulty 
than  a  common  English  printing-office. 

"  The  Committee  are  much  indebted  to  the  Eev.  Robert 
Baird,  now  in  Paris,  for  the  promptitude  and  ability  with 
which  he  answered  all  their  letters  in  relation  to  this 
subiect     He  also  forwarded  specimens  of  the  printing 
which  in  beauty  of  form  and  perfection  of  finish,  excel 
any  Chinese  printing  with  which  they  have  yet  been 
compared  in  this  country.    An  experienced  typographer 
has  engaged  to  furnish  matrices  for  the  whole,  or  for 
part  of  the  language,  as  individuals  or  societies  may 
order.     Deeming  the  subject  of  the  first  importance,  in 
reference  to  the  present  condition  of  China,  the  Com- 
mittee, in  October  last,  ordered  a  set  of  matrices  for  the 
whole  language,  and  forwarded  $500  in  Part  payment 
The  expense  at  first  was  stated  to  be  nearly  $5,000,  but 
by  later  information  from  Mr.  Baird,  some  additional 


THE   WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  177 

charges  for  polishing,  preparing,  and  numbering  the 
matrices,  amounting  to  $1,600,  must  be  added.  The 
payment  of  this  additional  sum  has  been  assumed  by  a 
single  individual,  which,  in  the  present  state  of  their 
funds,  very  much  relieved  the  Committee.  There  is 
also  some  uncertainty  whether  the  whole  number  of 
matrices  will  be  made.  The  typographer  states,  that  for 
less  than  two  orders,  he  cannot  afford  the  expense  of 
completing  the  whole  set.  No  other  Society,  either  in 
Europe  or  the  United  States,  has  ordered  a  full  set ;  but 
the  last  advices  are  favorable  to  a  second  order  being 
given  by  the  Royal  Printing  Establishment  of  Franca 
A  number,  however,  that  will  be  of  essential  service  will 
be  obtained,  some  of  which  are  already  made.  With 
some  delay,  the  whole  of  the  remainder  can  be  furnished 
by  American  artists  at  a  small  increase  of  expense. 

"The  Committee  had  previously  decided  to  send  a 
mission  to  China,  as  large  and  efficient  as  the  means 
placed  in  their  hands  would  justify.     For  this  mission 
there  have  been  designated  two  ordained  ministers,  one 
physician,  and  one  printer.     If  the  means  were  afforded, 
these  brethren  would  in  a  few  weeks  be  on  their  way. 
At  present  there  are  not  means  to  send  them  forward ; 
but  the  Committee  hope  the  delay  will  be  short ;  they 
trust   the  time  is  nearly  past  when   the   Presbyterian 
Church  will  continue  to  stand  with   her  arms  folded, 
wliile  the  millions  of  China  are  perishing  in  her  sight."' 
The  writer  greatly  rejoices  that  he  is  able  to  state^that 
the  Rev.  John  A.  Mitchell,  and  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Orr,  and 
Mrs.  Orr,  forming  an  incipient  mission  to  China,  sailed 
for  the  port  of  their  destination  in  December  last  (1837). 
A  physician  is  delayed  for  the  want  of  means  to  send  him 
out.^  The  matrices  for  the  Chinese  metal  types  are  in  prep- 
aration at  Paris,  with  much  promise  of  complete  success. 


nS  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

CHINESE       [The  Chinese  metallic  type  question  had  a  re- 
TYPEs.    markable  history,  partly  given  in  the  preceding 
pages.     A  few  lines  suiDplemental  may  here  be  in  good 
place. 

When  the  question  of  ordering  a  set  of  the  matrices 
from  the  artist  in  Paris  came  before  the  Presbyterian 
Board,  it  had  no  missions  in  China,  though  one  was  pro- 
jected, and  two  missionaries  were  under  appointment ; 
the  expense  was  estimated  at  about  $6,000 ;  the  Board's 
income  was  still  but  small ;  the  request  called  for  faith, 
especially  in  view  of  the  declinature  by  other  public  and 
missionary  institutions  to  subscribe  in  aid  of  such  an  ex- 
periment. It  is  not  surprising  that  the  new  Board 
should  hesitate  to  incur  so  large  a  pecuniary  outlay  for 
60  apparently  doubtful  an  object. 

But  looking  back  a  few  years,  it  was  deemed  singular 
by  the  younger  members  of  his  family  that  the  Secre- 
tary, then  in  the  full  measure  of  public  official  service 
in  Washington,  should  decide  to  rise  two  hours  earlier 
each  morning  in  order  to  study  Chinese !     But  this  he 
continued  to  do  for  a  few  years,  until,  with  the  aid  of 
dictionary  and  grammar,  he  could  translate  some  Chinese 
books,  as  well  as  in  a  degree  to  understand  matters  con- 
nected with  the  language.    It  was  of  special  interest  that 
this  study  enabled  him  to  see  the  practicable  side  of  this 
new  type  question;  and  that  he  had  been  called  by 
Providence  to  a  post  of  duty,  where  he  had  to  consider 
its  missionary  bearing.     It  was  finally  decided  favorably 
by  the  Board,  partly  out  of  deference  to  the  Secretary's 
views,  and  still  more  owing  to  the  noble  liberahty  of  one 
of  the  Board's  members— the  late  Mr.  James  Lenox, 
who  had  carefully  studied  the  subject  with  the  Secre- 
tary.    The  order  was  given ;  arrangements  were  made, 
involving  much  subsequent  patient  labor  by  printers  and 


THE   WESTERN   FOR.   MIS3.   SOCIETY.  179 

Other  missionaries— all  ending  in  complete  success.  This 
press  is  now  and  has  been  for  years  in  full  work.  The 
Holy  Scriptures  and  other  books  are  printed  in  electro- 
tyjDe  editions.  It  has  become  the  largest  printing  estal)- 
hshment  in  Eastern  Asia.  It  is  already  sec-iring  the  con- 
fidence of  the  Chinese,  the  most  conservative  people 
m  the  worid.  Their  compositors  and  pressmen  are  its 
workmen.  Their  capitalists  and  business  men,  with 
their  energy  and  industry,  and  with  the  lower  wa-es 
from  lower  cost  of  living,  will  eventually  be  ready^o 
supersede  foreign  enterprise— much  to  the  relief  of 
Missionary  Boards.] 

PROJECTED  The  Institution,  whose  missions  have 

OR  PROSPECTIVE  uow  becu  noticcd,  is  still  in  its  infancy 
mssioNs.        Those  who  conducted  its  operations  be- 
fore It  was  received  under  the  patronage  of  the  General 
Assembly,  as  well  as  those  who  now  manage  its  concerns 
have  been  obliged  to  do  what  they  found  to  be  practic^ 
able,  and  to  forego  much,  very  much,  that  they  felt  to 
be  desirable.     Often  it  was  difficult,  as  they  could  do  but 
little,  to  say  who,  among  the  multitude  hastening  to  per- 
dition, they  would  first  attempt  to  save.     Thelieathen 
nations  were  spread  out  before  them,  like  men  perishincr 
by  a  mighty  shipwreck,  and  as  their  little  relief  bark 
could  only  go  to  one  here,  and  anotlier  there,  the  ques- 
tion was  embarrassing,  what  individuals  of  the  sinkincr 
throng  tliey  would  immediately  strive  to  rescue.    Hence 
in  their  report  they  point  to  so  many  fields  of  usefulness 
which  they  saw  it  to  be  desirable,  yet  found  it  to  be  im- 
practicable,  to  essay  to  enter,  till  t'heir  means  should  be 
greatly  enlarged.     In  their  report  on  their  Northern 
India   and  China   missions,   they  point   to   regions  of 
heathen  desolation,  which  all  the  missions  now  in  action 
throughout  the  world,  would  but  very  partially  supply 


180  PRESBYTERIAN  MlSSIOlJq^S. 

Beside  what  thej  there  saj,  toward  the  close  of  their  last 
report,  they  give  a  distinct  article  which  they  entitle 
"  ADDITIONAL  MISSIONS,"  and  then  add  : 

"  In  view  of  the  amount  of  means  that  might  be  con- 
tributed by  the  churches  connected  with  the  Society, 
the  Committee  believed  it  to  be  their  duty,  to  bring 
into  view  other  stations,  which  ought  to  be  occupied. 
Two  of  these  would  be,  the  enlargement  of  missionary 
operations  among  the  Indian  tribes,  another  a  mission  to 
Calcutta,  and  another  a  mission  to  China."  This  report, 
it  will  be  recollected,  was  made,  while  as  yet  the  mission, 
since  gone  to  China,  could  not  proceed  for  want  of 
the  necessary  funds.  The  same  want  still  renders  it 
very  imperfect. 

INDIAN  In  their  last  report  the  Committee  say  :  "  Be- 
TRiBEs  yond  the  limits  of  the  respective  States,  and  east 
of  the  Eocky  Mountains,  are  forty  tribes  of  various 
sizes,  containing  a  population  of  near  200,000.  Ten 
other  tribes,  or  parts  of  tribes,  east  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  with  a  population  of  50,000,  are  under  treaty 
stipulations  to  remove  west  of  that  river ;  thus  making 
an  aggregate  of  250,000,  all  more  or  less  accessible  to 
the  labors  of  the  missionary. 

"  The  Indian  territory,  as  designated  by  the  commis- 
sioners to  apportion  it  among  the  different  tribes,  is 
bounded  by  Red  river  on  the  south,  and  the  Missouri 
and  Platte  rivers  on  the  north  ;  and  is  estimated  to  con- 
tain 206,738  square  miles — a  country  more  than  three 
times  the  size  of  the  six  New  England  States,  and  more 
than  four  times  the  size  of  Pennsylvania.  Upwards  of 
45,000  Indians  have  already  emigrated  to  this  territory, 
which,  with  6,500  Kansas  and  Osages  residing  there, 
and  50,000,  under  treaty  stipulations  to  remove  within 
its  limits,  will  make  a  population  of  more  than  100,000. 


THE  WESTERN  FOE.    MISS.    SOCIETY.  181 

Here  are  no  interferences  with  the  jurisdiction  or  rights 
of  any  of  the  States  ;  and  the  whole  Indian  territory 
will  be  held  by  them,  under  the   solemn  guarantee  of 
the  Government  of  the  United  States.     In  every  treaty, 
the  most  ample  provision  has  been  made  for  the  support 
of  schools,  and  for  teaching  agriculture  and  the  most 
simple  of  the  mechanic  arts.     It  is  a  most  important 
question,  will  this  experiment  of  the  government,  in 
thus  providing  a  permanent  home,  save  the  remnants  of 
this  noble  race,  from  the  melancholy  destiny  of  those 
who  have  perished  before  the  advance  of  the  white  man  ? 
Is  it  practicable  to  elevate  the  mass  of  this  population, 
60  that  in  time  they  may  safely  be  entrusted  with  all  the 
rights  of  citizens,  and  be  brought  into  the  Union,  on  an 
equal  footing  with  the  original  States  ?     It  would  not  be 
difficult  to  prove,  that  if  the  proper  means  are  used, 
both  these  questions  may   be  safely  answered  in  the 
affirmative.     But  leaving  this  discussion  as  not  properly 
belonging  to  this  report,  the  Committee  would  notice 
but  one  aspect  of  the  question.     This  experiment  will 
fail  most  certainly,  unless  the   Indians  are   made  ac- 
quainted with   the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.     How  im- 
portant then  is  the  agency  the  Church  has  to  perform  ; 
and  how  great  will  be  her  guilt,  if  from  apathy  the  part 
assigned  to  her  is  left  undone,  and  thereby  all  the  other 
efforts  fail !     In  view  of  this  responsibility,  the  Com- 
mittee have  decided,  that  as  soon  as  they  can  obtain 
qualified  men,  and  the  means  are  afforded,  to  occupy 
suitable  stations  in  the  Indian  territory,  and  thus  to  aid 
in  sending  the  Gospel  to  every  tribe  and  people  within 
its  limits. 

"  The  Committee  had  also  in  contemplation  to  send  a 
mission  to  the  Mandan  Indians.  They  reside  high  up 
on  the  Missouri,  and  have  a  population  of  15,000.  There 


182  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

are  many  considerations  iu  favor  of  a  station  so  remote 
from  the  white  population  on  the  borders  of  the  settle- 
ments. There  are  also  disadvantages.  The  Committee 
are  not  prepared  at  present  to  occupy  this  station ;  and 
this  mission  must  wait  till  the  spirit  of  the  churches  has 
reached  a  higher  elevation  in  favor  of  foreign  missions. 
In  the  meantime  the  Committee  will  seek  for  the  best 
information  in  relation  to  all  the  tribes  upon  our 
borders. 

MISSION  "  Looking  to  our  large  and  extending  mis- 
To  CALCUTTA,  slonary  estabhshments  in  Upper  India,  the 
Committee  have  decided  to  establish  a  mission  at  Cal- 
cutta. Through  this  place  all  the  remittances  and  sup- 
plies for  the  upper  stations  must  be  sent.  This  city  is 
the  seat  of  the  British  Government  in  India.  It  is 
crowded  and  surrounded  by  a  heathen  population  ;  and 
the  devoted  laborers  from  other  societies  now  there,  are 
anxiously  looking  to  this  country  for  assistance  in  this 
arduous  work. 

"  The  Committee  have  not  definitely  selected  any 
other  stations  in  India.  What  additional  points  they 
may  be  able  to  occupy,  will  depend  on  the  men  and  the 
means  which  may  be  at  their  disposal.  A  pressing  call 
has  been  made  in  favor  of  Munipore,  a  station  about 
half  way  between  Calcutta  and  Ava,  and  on  the  direct 
road  between  the  two  cities.  Yarious  stations  on  the 
Ganges  above  Benares  are  very  eligible,  and  call  loudly 
on  the  churches  to  occupy  them.  It  is  the  wish  of  the 
Committee,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  make  arrangements 
for  occupying  one  or  more  stations,  at  or  above  Allaha- 
bad, the  station  now  occupied  by  a  part  of  the  last 
missionaries  sent  to  India.  All  these  stations  would  be 
on  the  direct  travelling  road  from  Calcutta  to  Lodiana." 

[The  purpose  of  establishing  a  mission  at  Calcutta 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  183 

was  not  fulfilled,  partly  because  that  city  ceased  to  be 
tlie  chief  business  port  of  the  missions  in  the  upper 
provinces.  The  steamers  superseded  the  sailing  vessels  ; 
the  railroads,  the  bulgerows  and  tents;  the  bills  of 
exchange,  the  recoinage  of  American  half-dollars  into 
Hindu  rupees; — changes  gradually  taking  effect  soon 
after  the  statement  above  was  published,  resulted  in 
more  convenient  methods  of  missionary  business.  In 
some  respects  Bombay  became  the  mission's  port.  But 
the  principal  reasons  for  the  proposed  new  mission  were 
lessened  in  force  by  the  greater  number  of  missionary 
laborers,  foreign  and  native,  who  in  a  few  years  made 
Calcutta  their  centre  of  work. 

Besides,  one  of  the  younger  men,  just  fairly  entered 
on  the  ministry,  who  possessed  extraordinary  gifts, 
which  would  no  doubt  have  placed  him  on  the  principal 
evangelistic  committees  in  the  capital  of  India,  was  led  to 
remain  at  work  for  Christ  in  this  country — a  work 
largely  available  also  for  the  missions  abroad.  All 
parties  cordially  concurred  in  this  decision,  until  at  his 
early  end  of  life,  he  was  eminent  above  most  men  in 
intellect;  eminent  also  in  linguistic  and  especially  in  Bibli- 
cal  studies,  in  commentaries — see  his  work  on  the  two 
volumes.  Earlier  and  Later,  of  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah,  in 
which  he  leaves  "  the  higher  critics,"  so  called,  with  little 
ground  to  stand  on ;  indeed,  those  two  volumes  ought 
long  ago  to  have  ended  controversy  on  the  subject.  He 
wrote  commentaries  on  the  Gospel  of  Mark  and  the  Acts 
of  the  Apostles,  besides  many  lectures  and  review  articles. 
He  was  remarkable  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  filling 
the  largest  churches  to  overflowing,  when  it  was  known 
that  he  was  to  preach ;  he  was  certainly  one  of  the  most 
eminent  among  men  of  gifts  and  scholarship,  and  he 
was  equally  remarkable  as  a  modest,  humble,  devoted 


184  PRESBYTEETAN  MISSIONS. 

servant  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  even  unto  the  end.  The 
Church  has  had  but  few  such  highly  endowed  men  in 
its  service.  It  is  a  privilege  to  bear  one's  testimony  to 
such  a  man,  in  times  of  uncertain  scholarship.  But  in 
this  place,  he  is  particularly  referred  to  as  ready  to  be 
a  missionary,  and  Calcutta  was  in  view  by  the  Board  for 
his  field  of  labor.  "We  can  now  see  more  clearly  that 
God  gave  Dr.  J.  Addison  Alexander  the  right  place  for 
his  service.] 

THE  This   publication   was  commenced  by  the 

FOREIGN  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  the 
MISSIONARY  second  year  (1833)  of  its  existence,  and  has 
CHRONICLE,  been  regularly  continued  ever  since.  It  con- 
sisted at  first  of  a  single  sheet,  but  is  now  extended  to 
two  sheets ;  and  is  printed  in  a  very  handsome  style, 
and  great  care  is  taken  to  distribute  it  regularly.  No 
Presbyterian  family  ought  to  be  without  this  publica- 
tion, whatever  be  the  number  or  character  of  the  other 
publications  which  it  receives.  The  price  is  only  one 
dollar  per  annum,  with  a  most  liberal  allowance  to 
agents.  A  very  particular  attention  is  due  to  the  fol- 
lowing statement,  which  appeared  on  the  cover  of  the 
January  number  of  the  present  year  (1838) : 

"  At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
in  Baltimore,  it  was  decided  that  the  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Chronicle  should  be  enlarged.  It  is  important  that 
our  churches  should  be  able  to  take  an  intelligent  in- 
terest in  the  proceedings  of  our  own  Missionary 
brethren,  and  to  offer  appropriate  prayers  to  God  in 
their  behalf;  and  it  is,  also,  desirable  that  every 
Christian  should  form  comprehensive  views  of  the  prog- 
ress of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  the  world.  Our  nar- 
row limits  have,  heretofore,  restricted  the  amount  of 
information  in  regard  to  these  objects,  which  we  have 


\ 


THE  WESTERN  FOE.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  185 

desired  to  communicate.  In  future,  we  hope  to  give  our 
readers  a  particular  account  of  tlie  proceedings  of  the 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  a  general  view  of  the  ti-ansactions  of  other  henevo- 
lent  institutions  ;  with  occasional  original  communica- 
tions ;  biographical  sketches  of  persons  engaged  in 
missionary  duty,  and  of  converted  heathens;  notices  of 
books  relating  to  missions  ;  and  such  other  general  in- 
formation as  may  be  adapted  to  interest  the  minds  of 
intelligent  and  reflecting  readers.  We  wish  to  make  the 
Foreign  Missionarij  Chronicle  so  far  a  perfect  Mission- 
ary work,  that  those  persons  whose  means  will  not  justify 
them  in  taking  more  than  one  periodical  of  this  kind, 
and  those  also  whose  duties  will  not  permit  them  to  read 
more  than  one,  will  ahke  find  this  Magazine  adapted  to 
their  wishes. 

"  The  Chronicle  will  continue  to  be  pubHshed  under 
the  direction  of  the  Executive  Committee.  We  are 
well  aware  of  the  difficulty  of  conducting  a  work  of  this 
kind,  in  such  a  way  as  to  meet  the  views  and  wishes  of 
all  classes  of  its  readers.  The  outline  presented  above, 
describes  the  manner  in  which  we  wish  to  have  it  con- 
ducted. We  hope  that  it  will  prove  a  useful  auxiliary 
to  clergymen,  and  to  individual  Christians,  who  wish  to 
co-operate  with  the  Board  of  their  own  Church  in  this 
sacred  cause.  It  may  perhaps  become  the  best,  and  yet 
the  least  expensive  agent,  which  the  Board  could  employ 
among  the  churches. 

"  May  we  not  hope,  therefore,  to  receive  the  kind 
countenance  of  Christian  friends,  in  sustaining  and  ex- 
tending the  circulation  of  this  work  ?  To  the  ministers 
of  our  churches  we  respectfully  suggest  the  propriety  of 
recommending  it  to  their  people  from  the  pulpit,  and 
on  other    occasions.     We  know   that,  commonly,   the 


186  PKESBTTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

degree  of  interest  which  anj  people  manifest  in  the 
subject  of  missions,  is  in  precise  proportion  to  the  mis- 
sionary intelligence  which  they  possess.  We  would,  also, 
solicit  the  assistance  of  all  who  are  friendly  to  this 
Board,  in  procuring  additional  subscribers  to  the 
Chronicle.  Its  circulation  might,  we  suppose,  at  once 
be  increased  many  thousands ;  and  the  present  seems  to 
be  the  most  suitable  time,  for  making  efforts  to  secure 
for  it  a  support  worthy  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
of  the  cause  in  whose  service  it  is  employed." 

[The  Foreign  Missionary  Chronicle  was  probably  the 
first  periodical  of  chiefly  foreign  missions  published  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  country.  It  was  edited 
mainly  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  P.  Swift,  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  published  under  the  direction  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  its  first  num- 
ber being  dated  April,  1833.  In  the  next  year  the 
services  of  the  venerable  and  greatly  esteemed  Pev. 
John  Andrews,  who  was  justly  claimed  to  be  the  first 
publisher  of  a  weekly  religious  newspaper  in  this 
country,  were  obtained  to  aid  in  the  duties  of  the  mis- 
sion office,  and  he  rendered  valuable  aid  in  editing  this 
publication.  On  the  transfer  of  the  Society  to  Xew 
York,  the  Chronicle  was  edited  for  some  years  by  one  of 
the  assistant  secretaries.  In  1850,  it  was  m^erged  in  the 
Home  and  Foreign  Record,  as  the  organ  of  all  the 
Boards.  The  Record  was  discontinued  in  1886,  and 
succeeded  by  the  Church  at  Home  and  Abroad. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that,  at  its  first  meeting,  in  1802, 
the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  appointed  twelve  of  its  members 
as  editors  of  a  magazine, — three  of  them  in  special  charge. 
Two  large  volumes  were  published  in  1803-1805,  the 
Western  Missionary  Magazine,  in  octavo.  They  con- 
tain valuable  articles  of  religious  instruction,  selected 


THE  WESTERN  FOR.   MISS.   SOCIETY.  187 

missionary   information,   and    often    quite  interesting 
letters  from  missionaries  of  the  Synod.     The  editors  do 
not  appear  to   have   received   compensation   for  tlieir 
labors,  but  the  sum  of  $334.32  was  paid  to  the  mission 
treasury   from   its    profits.      Though    references  were 
made  in  the  Synod  as  to  its  continuance,  no  positive 
information  as  to  a  later  volume  seems  to  be  available. 
COLLECTING        The  W.  F.  M.  Society  departed  widely 
AGENTS.       from  the  example  referred  to  on  a  previous 
page  of  the  Synodical  Commissions,  in  efforts  to  obtain 
funds  for  its  work.     The  Commissions  relied  chiefly  on 
the  evangelistic  piety  of  their  ministers  and  people ;  the 
Society  appointed  not  a  few  agents  to  make  collections 
—pastors,  unemployed   ministers,  licentiate  preachers, 
and  missionaries  under  appointment ;  usually  for  short 
periods,  and  on  moderate  compensation.    In  the  circum- 
stances then  existing  this  policy  was  considered  expedient 
by  many,  though  not  by  all,  and  after  the  Society  was 
merged  in  the  General  Assembly,  it  was  continued  for 
some  years.     Its  plan  was  modified,  however,  so   that 
the  services  of  ministers  of  large  acceptableness  were 
sought,  for  much  larger  districts  of  the  country.     For  a 
time  a  General  Agent  or  Field  Secretary  was  in  service ; 
then  one  for  two  or  three  States  in  the  East,  another 
for  several  in  the  West,  etc.    It  was  found  difficult  to 
get  such  men,  and  more  difiicult  to  keep  them.     More- 
over, the  true  theory  of  gifts  in  aid  of  church  evangeliz- 
ing work  was  gaining  approval— that  such  gifts  are  the 
fruits  of  divine  grace,  and  are  to  be  sought  in  the  use  of 
the  ordinary  means  of  grace.     This  view  of  the  subject 
transferred    the  responsibility  of  seeking    these    gifts 
from  the  missionary  ofiice  to  the  church  session  and  its 
ministers— very  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  work. 
In  connection  with  this,  in  still  later  years,  the  General 


188  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

Assembly's  Committee  on  Systematic  Benevolence  ren- 
dered valuable  service,  though  in  such  a  Church  and  in 
such  a  ministry  as  the  Presbyterian  it  would  seem  that 
this  kind  of  agency  ought  not  to  be  long  needed. 

Keeping  to  the  record,  in  1855  all  Collecting  or  Field 
Agency  was  discontinued  by  the  Board,  and  for  many 
years  its  sole  reliance  was  on  the  churches.  During 
these  years,  the  two  financial  crises  of  the  Board's 
history  occurred — one  in  1861,  when  about  one-third 
of  its  income  was  withdrawn  by  the  Southern  churches, 
with  but  little  offset  for  less  expenses,  most  of  the  mis- 
sionaries having  remained  with  the  Board  ;  the  other, 
a  few  years  later,  by  the  depreciated  currency  of  the 
country.  In  both  these  cases  it  was  the  ministers  and 
people  who  saved  the  cause.  Visiting  agents  would 
have  been  of  little  use.] 


TRANSFER    OF    THE    WESTERN    FOREIGN 
MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

IT  only  remains  to  trace  the  proceeding  which  resulted 
in  the  transfer  of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  from  the  Board  of  Directors  deriving  their 
antliority  from  tlie  Synod  of  Pittsbnrgli,  to  tlie  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  consti- 
tuted by  the  General  Assembly  of  that  Church  in  the 
United  States. 

The  Convention  which  met  at  Pittsburgh  in  May, 
1835,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  signers  of  the 
Act  and  Testimony,  issued  after  the  rising  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  preceding  year,  was  the  first 
public  body  that  adopted  any  decisive  measures  on  this 
subject.  The  Act  of  the  Convention  referred  to,  was 
expressed  in  the  following  resolution : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  the  memorial 
be  instructed  to  present  to  the  General  Assembly 
the  solemn  conviction  of  this  Convention,  that  the 
Presbyterian  Church  owes  it  as  a  sacred  duty  to  her 
glorified  Head,  to  yield  a  far  more  exemplary  obedi- 
ence (and  that  in  her  distinctive  character  as  a  Church) 
to  the  command  which  He  gave  at  His  ascension  into 
Heaven  :  '  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature.'  It  is  believed  to  be  among 
the  causes  of  the  frowns  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church,  which  are  now  resting  on  our  beloved  Zion,  in 
the  declension  of  vital  piety  and  the  disorders  and 
divisions  that  distract  us,  that  we  have  done  so  little — 
comparatively  nothing — in  our  distinctive  character  as 
a  Church  of  Christ,  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen, 

(189) 


190  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

the  Jews,  and  the  Mohammedans.  It  is  regarded  as  of 
vital  importance  to  the  welfare  of  our  Church,  that 
foreign  as  well  as  domestic  missions  should  be  more 
zealously  prosecuted,  and  more  liberally  patronized  ;  and 
that,  as  a  nucleus  of  foreign  missionary  effort  and  oper- 
ation, the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  should 
receive  the  countenance,  as  it  appears  to  us  to  merit  the 
confidence,  of  those  who  cherish  an  attachment  to  the 
doctrines  and  order  of  the  Church  to  which  we  be- 
long." 

"  After  some  discussion  the  above  document  was 
committed  to  the  Rev.  Drs.  Blythe,  Cuyler,  and 
"Witherspoon,  with  instructions  to  introduce  the  subject 
to  the  notice  of  the  General  Assembly,  through  the 
Committee  on  Bills  and  Overtures." 

Agreeably  to  their  appointment,  the  Committee  on 
the  Memorial  of  the  Convention  presented  the  foregoing 
resolution  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1835.  The 
action  of  the  Assembly  on  the  subject,  is  contained  in 
the  following  extracts  from  their  records : 

"  The  Committee  on  Overture,  'No.  24,  reported  and 
their  report  was  accepted  and  adopted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz. : 

"  The  Committee  on  the  papers  submitted  to  them 
in  relation  to  the  "Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions, 
viz. : 

"  I.  That  it  is  the  solemn  conviction  of  this  General 
Assembly  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  owes  it,  as  a 
sacred  duty  to  her  glorified  Head,  to  yield  a  far  more 
exemplary  obedience,  and  that  in  her  distinctive  char- 
acter as  a  church,  to  the  command  which  He  gave  at 
His  ascension  into  Heaven  :  '  Go  ye  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.'    It  is  believed 


TRANSFER  OF  THE   W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        191 

to  be  among  the  causes  of  the  frowns  of  the  great  Head 
of  the  Church,  which  are  now  resting  on  our  beloved 
Zion,  in  the  declension  of  vital  pietj  and  the  disorders 
and  divisions  that  distract  us,  that  we  have  done  so  httle 
—comparatively  nothing— in  our  distinctive  character 
as  a  Church  of  Christ,  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the  heatben, 
the  Jews,  and  the  Mohammedans.     It  is  regarded  as  of 
vital   importance  to  the   welfare  of  our  Church,  that 
foreign  as  well  as  domestic  missions  should  be 'more 
zealously  prosecuted,  and  more  liberally  patronized  ;  and 
that  as  a  nucleus  of  foreign  missionary  effort  and  oper- 
ation, the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  should 
receive  the  countenance,  as  it  appears  to  us  to  merit  the 
confidence,  of  those  who  cherish  an  attachment  to  the 
doctrines  and  order  of  the  Church  to  which  we  belong. 
"  II.  Resolved,  That  a  committee    be  appointed  to 
confer  with  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  on  the  subject  of 
a  transfer  of  the  su23ervision  of  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  now  under  the   direction   of  tlfat 
Synod ;  to  ascertain  the  terms  on  which  such  transfer 
can  be  made,  to  devise  and  digest  a  plan  of  conducting 
foreign   missions  under  "the  direction  of  the   General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  report  the 
whole  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

"  Dr.  Cuyler,  Dr.  Cummins,  Dr.*^  Hoge,  Dr.  Wither- 

spoon,  and  Dr.  Edgar  were  appointed  this  Committee." 

On  the  second  day  after  adopting  the  foregoing  report 

of  their  Committee,  the  General  Assembly  passed  the 

following  resolution  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  on  the  subject  of  a  trans- 
fer of  the  supervision  of  the  Western  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  to  the  General  Asscmblv,  be  authorized,  if 
they  shall  approve  of  the  said  transfer,  to  ratify  and 


192  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

confirm  the  same  with  the  said  Synod,  and  report  the 
same  to  the  next  General  Assembly." 

The  Committee  appointed  by  this  resolution  made  to 
the  General  Assembly  of  1836  the  following  report : 

"  The  Committee  appointed  by  the  last  Assembly,  on 
the  transfer  of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
to  the  General  Assembly,  made  a  report,  which  was 
read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz. : 

"  The  Committee  appointed  under  the  following 
resolution  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  viz. : 

"  '  Besol/ved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  on  the  subject  of  a  trans- 
fer of  the  supervision  of  the  "Western  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  to  the  General  Assembly,  be  authorized,  if 
they  shall  approve  of  the  said  transfer,  to  ratify  and 
confirm  the  same  with  the  said  Synod,  and  report  the 
same  to  the  next  General  Assembly,'  beg  leave  to  report 
— That  they  submitted  the  following  terms  of  agreement 
to  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  at  its  sessions  last  fall,  and 
that  it  was  duly  ratified  by  that  body,  as  will  fully  appear 
by  its  minutes. 

"  Terms  of  agreement  between  the  Committee  of  the 
General  Assembly  and  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  in 
reference  to  the  transfer  of  the  Western  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

"  1.  The  General  Assembly  will  assume  the  super- 
vision and  control  of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  from  and  after  the  next  annual  meeting  of  said 
Assembly,  and  will  thereafter  superintend  and  conduct, 
by  its  own  proper  authority,  the  work  of  foreign  mis- 
sions of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  by  a  Board  especially 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  directly  amenable  to 
said  Assembly.  And  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  does 
hereby  transfer  to  that  body,  all  its  supervision   and 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.  F.    M.   SOCIETY.         193 

control  over  the  missions  and  operations  of  the  AVestern 
Foreign  Society,  from  and  after  the  adoption  of  this 
minute  ;  and  authorizes  and  directs  said  Society  to  per- 
form every  act  necessary  to  complete  said  transfer,  when 
tlie  Assembly  shall  have  appointed  its  Board ;  it  being 
expressly  understood,  that  the  said  Assembly  will  never 
hereafter  alienate  or  transfer  to  any  other  judicatory 
or  board  whatever,  the  direct  supervision  and  manao-e- 
ment  of  the  said  missions,  or  those  which  may  hereafter 
be  established  by  the  Board  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly. 

"  2.  The  General  Assembly  shall,  at  its  next  meeting, 
choose  forty  ministers  and  forty  laymen,  and  annually 
thereafter  ten  ministers  and  ten  laymen,  as  members  of 
the  Board  of  Foreign   Missions,  whose  term  of  office 
shall  be  four  years  ;  and  these  forty  ministers  and  forty 
laymen,  so  appointed,  shall   constitute  a  board,  to  be 
styled  '  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  United  States';  to  which,  for  the 
time  being,  shall  be  entrusted,  with  such  directions  and 
instructions  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  given,  the 
superintendence  of  the  foreign  missionary  operations  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  ;  who  shall  make  annually  to 
the  General  Assembly   a  report  of  their  proceedings ; 
and  submit  for  its  approval  such  plans  and  measures  as 
may  be  deemed  useful  and  necessary.     Until  the  trans- 
fer shall  have  been  completed,  the  business  shall  be  con- 
ducted by  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

"3.  The  board  of  directors  shall  hold  a  meeting 
annually,  at  some  convenient  time  during  the  sessions  of 
the  General  Assembly,  at  which  it  shall  appoint  a  pres- 
ident, a  vice-president,  a  corresponding  secretary,  a 
recording  secretary,  a  treasurer,  general  agents,  and  an 
executive  committee,  to  serve  for  the  ensuing  year.     It 


194  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

shall  belong  to  the  Board  to  receive  and  dispose  of  their 
annual  report,  and  present  a  statement  of  their  proceed- 
ings to  the  General  Assembly.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  board  of  directors  to  meet  for  the  transaction  of 
business  as  often  as  may  be  expedient,  due  notice  of 
every  special  meeting  being  given  to  every  member  of 
the  board.  It  is  recommended  to  the  board  to  hold,  in 
different  parts  of  the  Church,  at  least  one  public  meet- 
ing annually,  to  promote  and  diffuse  a  livelier  interest 
in  the  foreign  missionary  cause. 

"  4.  To  the  executive  committee,  consisting  of  not 
more  than  seven  members,  besides  the  corresponding 
secretary  and  treasurer,  shall  belong  the  duty  of  appoint- 
ing all  missionaries  and  missionary  agents,  except  those 
otherwise  provided  for  ;  of  designating  their  fields  of 
labor,  receiving  the  reports  of  the  corresponding  secre- 
tary, and  giving  him  needful  directions  in  reference  to 
all  matters  of  business  and  correspondence  entrusted  to 
him ;  to  authorize  all  appropriations  and  expenditures 
of  money;  and  to  take  the  particular  direction  and 
management  of  the  foreign  missionary  work,  subject  to 
the  revision  of  the  board  of  directors.  The  executive 
committee  shall  meet  at  least  once  a  month,  and  oftener 
if  necessary ;  of  whom  three  members,  meeting  at  the 
time  and  place  of  adjournment  or  special  call,  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum.  The  committee  shall  have  power  to 
fill  their  own  vacancies,  if  any  occur  during  a  recess  of 
the  board. 

"  5.  All  property,  houses,  lands,  tenements,  and  per- 
manent funds,  belonging  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions to  be  constituted  by  this  agreement,  shall  be  taken 
in  the  name  of  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  held  in  trust  by  them,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  for  the  time  being. 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        195 

"  6.  The  seat  of  the  operations  of  the  Board  shall  be 
designated  by  the  General  Assembly. 

"  After  some  discussion,  the  above  report  was  com- 
mitted to  Dr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Scovel,  Dr.  Skinner,  Dr. 
Dunlap,  and  Mr.  Ewing,  who  were  authorized  to  review 
the  whole  case,  and  present  it  for  the  consideration  of 
this  Assembly. 

"  Besolved,  That  the  report  of  this  committee  be  the 
order  of  the  day  for  Thursday  morning  at  10  o'clock,  or 
earlier  if  prepared." 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  close  of  the  foregoing 
minute,  made  the  following  report : 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  report  of 
the  committee  on  the  transfer  of  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  and  an  overture  on  the  same  subject 
from  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  made  a  report,  which 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  report  of 
the  committee  appointed  by  the  last  Assembly,  on  the 
subject  of  a  transfer  of  the  supervision  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  to  the  General  Assembly, 
and  also  the  overture  from  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  subject  of  foreign  missions,  report— That  the 
attention  of  the  last  Assembly  was  called  to  the  subject 
of  foreign  missions  by  the  following  overture,  viz.,  on 
page  31  of  printed  minutes :" 

The  committee  here  recite  what  was  done  in  the  pre- 
ceding year,  as  already  stated,  and  which  need  not  be 
repeated.  They  then  continue  in  their  report  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  Thus  it  appears,  that  the  proposition  to  confer  with 
the  Synod,  and  to  assume  the  supervision  and  control  of 
the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  originated  in 
the  Assembly. 


196  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIOI^S. 

"  At  that  time  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  was  in  a  prosperous  condition,  enjoying  the  con- 
fidence and  receiving  the  patronage  of  a  considerable 
number  of  our  churches,  having  in  their  employ  about 
twenty  missionaries,  and  their  funds  were  unembarrassed. 
The  committee  having  conferred  with  some  of  the 
members  of  that  Society,  and  finding  that  the  proposi- 
tion was  favorably  regarded  by  them,  indulging  the  hope 
that  an  arrangement  might  be  definitely  made  with  the 
Synod  at  their  next  stated  meeting,  by  which  the 
Assembly  would  be  prepared  to  enter  on  the  work  at 
their  present  sessions,  brought  the  subject  again  before 
the  Assembly,  when  it  was,  after  mature  deliberation, 

"  '  Resolved,  That  the  committee  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  on  the  subject  of  a  trans- 
fer of  the  supervision  of  the  "Western  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  to  the  General  Assembly,  be  authorized,  if 
they  shall  approve  of  the  said  transfer,  to  ratify  and 
confirm  the  same  with  the  said  Synod,  and  report  the 
same  to  the  next  Assembly,' — p.  33. 

"  The  committee  thus  appointed,  and  clothed  with 
full  powers  to  ratify  and  confirm  a  transfer,  submitted 
the  terms  on  which  they  were  willing  to  accept  it,  to 
the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  at  their  sessions  last  fall. 

"  The  members  of  the  committee  not  being  present 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Synod,  and  there  being  no  time 
for  further  correspondence,  the  Synod  (although  they 
would  have  preferred  some  alterations  of  the  terms) 
were  precluded  from  proposing  any,  on  the  ground  that 
such  alteration  would  vitiate  the  whole  proceedings,  and 
therefore  acceded  to  the  terms  of  the  transfer  which  were 
proposed  by  the  committee  of  the  Assembly,  and 
solemnly  ratified  the  contract  on  their  part.  Feeling 
themselves  bound  by  the  same,  and  trusting  to  the  good 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        197 

faith  of  this  body,  they  have  acted  accordingly,  and  have 
made  no  provision  for  their  missionaries  now  in  the  field 
for  a  longer  time  than  the  meeting  of  this  Assembly, 
having  informed  them  of  the  transfer  which  has  taken 
place,  and  of  the  new  relation  they  would  sustain  to  this 
body  after  their  present  sessions. 

"  It  appears  then  to  your  committee,  that  the  Assem- 
bly have  entered  into  a  solemn  compact  with  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburgh,  and  that  there  remains  but  one  righteous 
course  to  pursue,  which  is  to  adopt  the  report  of  the 
committee  appointed  last  year,  and  to  appoint  a  Foreign 
Missionary  Board.  To  pause  now,  or  to  annul  the 
doings  of  the  last  Assembly  in  this  matter,  would  be 
obviously  a  violation  of  contract,  a  breach  of  trust,  and  a 
departure  from  that  good  faith  which  should  be  sacredly 
kept  between  man  and  man,  and  especially  between 
Christian  societies — conduct  which  would  be  utterly  un- 
worthy of  this  venerable  body,  and  highly  injurious  to 
the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

"  The  committee  beg  leave  further  respectfully  to 
remind  the  Assembly,  that  a  large  proportion  of  our 
churches  (being  Presbyterians  from  conviction  and  pref- 
erence) feel  it  to  be  consistent  not  only,  but  their 
solemn  duty  in  the  sight  of  God,  to  impart  to  others  the 
same  good,  and  in  the  same  form  of  it  which  they  enjoy 
themselves,  and  to  be  represented  in  heathen  lands  by 
missionaries  of  their  own  denomination.  They  greatly 
prefer  such  an  organization  as  this  contemplated,  and 
which  shall  be  under  the  care  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  cannot  be  enlisted  so  well  in  the  great  and 
glorious  work  of  sending  the  Gospel  to  the  Heathen, 
under  any  other.  Already,  with  the  blessing  of  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church  on  the  efTorts  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  this  form  of  operation, 


198  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

has  a  missionary  spirit  been  awakened  among  them  to  a 
considerable  extent,  and  an  interest  in  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions been  created,  never  before  felt  by  them.  They 
have  furnished  men  for  the  work,  and  are  contributing 
cheerfully  to  their  support  in  the  foreign  field. 

"  As  one  great  end  to  be  accomplished  by  all  who  love 
the  Eedeemer,  is  to  awaken  and  cherish  a  missionary 
spirit,  and  to  enlist  all  the  churches  in  the  work  of  evan- 
gelizing the  world  ;  as  every  leading  Christian  denomi- 
nation in  the  world  has  its  own  foreign  missionary 
board,  and  has  found  such  distinct  organization  the 
most  effectual  method  of  interesting  the  churches  under 
their  care,  in  this  great  subject ;  as  such  an  organization 
cannot  interfere  with  the  rights  or  operations  of  any 
other  similar  organization,  for  the  field  is  the  world,  and 
is  wide  enough  for  all  to  cultivate;  as  it  is  neither 
desired  nor  intended  to  dictate  to  any  in  this  matter,  but 
simply  to  give  an  opportunity  of  sending  the  Gospel  to 
the  heathen,  by  their  own  missionaries,  to  those  who 
prefer  this  mode  of  doing  so,  giving  them  that  liberty 
which  they  cheerfully  accord  to  others — your  committee 
cannot  suppose  for  a  moment  that  this  General  Assem- 
bly will,  in  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  refuse  to  con- 
summate this  arrangement  with  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
and  thus  prevent  so  many  churches  under  their  care 
from  supporting  their  missionaries,  in  their  own  way. 
From  this  view  of  the  case,  they  recommend  to  the 
Assembly  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions,  viz. : 

"1.  Resolved^  That  the  report  of  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  last  Assembly,  to  confer  with  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  on  the  subject  of  a  transfer  of  the 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  to  the  General 
Assembly,  be  adopted,  and  that  said  transfer  be  accepted, 
on  the  terms  of  agreement  therein  contained. 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        199 

"2.  Resolved,  That  the  Assembly  will  proceed  to 
appoint  a  Foreign  Missionary  Board,  the  seat  of  whose 
operations  shall  be  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

"  The  above  report  was  made  the  order  of  the  day  for 
to-morrow  morning  at  9  o'clock." 

The  discussion  in  the  General  Assembly  on  this  im- 
portant concern  was  much  protracted.  The  parties 
were  very  nearly  equal  in  numbers,  and  on  both  sides 
deeply  interested.  The  following  are  the  dates  and 
minutes,  exhibited  in  the  record  of  the  proceedings  had 
cm  the  subject : 

"  Thursday  morning,  May  26,  1836.— The  Assembly, 
agreeably  to  the  order  of  the  day,  took  up  the  report  of 
the  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  report  of  the 
Committee  of  the  last  Assembly,  on  the  transfer  of  the 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

"  Dr.  Skinner,  one  of  the  Committee,  who  dissented 
from  this  report,  made  a  counter  report,  which  was  read, 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"Whereas,  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions  has  been  connected  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  from  the  year  of  its  incorporation,  by 
the  very  elements  of  its  existence;  and  whereas,  at  the 
present  tmie,  the  majority  of  the  whole  of  that  Board 
are  Presbyterians ;  and  whereas,  as  it  is  undesirable,  in 
conductmg  the  work  of  foreign  missions,  that  there 
should  be  any  coUision  at  home  or  abroad  ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient  that  the  Assembly 
should  organize  a  separate  Foreign  Missionary  Institu- 
tion. 

"  A  motion  was  made  to  adopt  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee ;  after  considerable  discussion,  a  motion  was 
made  to  postpone  the  motion  for  adoption  of  the  Com- 
mittee's report,  with  a  view  to  take  up  the  report  of 


200  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

Dr.  Skinner.  While  this  motion  was  under  discussion, 
the  Assembly  adjourned  till  this  afternoon  at  half-past 
2  o'clock. 

"Thursday  afternoon,  May  26th. — The  Assembly 
resumed  the  unfinished  business  of  this  morning,  viz., 
the  postponement  of  the  motion  for  the  adoption  of  the 
report  of  the  Committee  on  the  transfer  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society ;  after  considerable  time 
spent  on  the  subject,  the  further  consideration  of  it  was 
suspended,  to  giv^e  an  opportunity  to  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed to  count  the  votes  for  members  of  the  Board 
of  Missions,  to  report. 

"  The  Assembly  resumed  the  subject  of  the  transfer 
of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  it  was 
further  discussed. 

"  Friday  morning,  May  27th. — The  Assembly  re- 
sumed the  consideration  of  the  unfinished  business  of 
last  evening,  viz.,  the  transfer  of  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society.  The  forenoon  was  spent  in  the 
discussion  of  this  subject. 

"Friday  afternoon.  May  27th. — The  unfinished  busi- 
ness of  the  morning,  viz.,  the  transfer  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  was  resumed ;  and  after 
considerable  discussion,  the  question  was  taken  on  the 
motion  to  postpone  the  motion  for  adopting  the  report 
of  the  Committee,  to  take  up  the  report  of  Dr.  Skinner, 
and  was  decided  in  the  negative.  The  yeas  on  this 
motion  were  133,  and  the  nays  134." 

Thus  it  appears,  that  on  this  question  the  members  of 
the  Assembly  in  favor  of  the  transfer,  had  a  majority  of 
a  single  vote.  After  this,  the  subject  was  not  again 
called  up,  till  Thursday  morning,  the  9th  of  June, 
when  the  final  vote  was  taken ;  the  record  of  which  is 
as  follows : 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        201 

"  The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  transfer  of  the 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  was  taken  up,  and 
after  considerable  discussion,  the  previous  question  was 
moved  and  carried,  when  the  main  question  on  adopting 
the  report,  to  transfer  the  "Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  to  the  General  Assembly,  was  put,  and  was 
decided  in  the  negative,  as  follows :  yeas,  106  ;  nays, 
110." 

Thus,  in  a  body  of  216  voters,  it  was  decided  by  a 
majority  of  four  votes,  to  set  aside  a  formal  solemn 
contract,  entered  into  with  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  un- 
der the  sanction  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1835  ;  and 
to  refuse  the  acceptance  of  the  transfer  whicli  the 
Synod  had  actually  made,  on  the  faith  that  the  contract 
to  which  they  had  been  invited,  would  certainly  be  ful- 
filled. A  very  able  protest,  with  87  signatures,  was 
entered  against  this  proceeding ;  and  was  answered,  or 
rather  replied  to,  by  a  Committee  of  the  majority  of 
the  Assembly,  appointed  for  the  purpose.  These 
papers  are  too  long  for  insertion  in  this  sketch  ;  and 
after  the  quotations  already  made,  are  not  necessary  to 
a  full  understanding  of  the  views  and  aims  of  the  dis- 
agreeing parties 

[The  author's  report  of  these  events  refers  to  some 
things  that  were  omitted  in  the  narrative,  presumably 
as  already  known  to  readers  of  that  day.  Complete 
information,  however,  is  still  readily  accessible,  in  the 
Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  years  1835, 
1836,  and  1837,  in  which  the  various  resolutions,  amend- 
ments, substitutes,  votes,  protests,  and  answers  to  pro- 
tests,— in  short,  the  full  proceedings  can  be  found  of 
record.  The  Annual  Reports  of  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  in  1830  and  1837,  should  also  be 
referred  to, — see  particularly,  page  33,  of  the  Eeport  of 


202  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

183Y;  and  the  Circular  Letter  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Society,  of  June  26,  1836. 

The  adverse  action  of  the  Assembly  on  the  transfer 
was  viewed  as  threatening  disaster  to  the  Society.  A 
conference  was  held  in  Philadelphia  early  in  June,  1836, 
by  its  friends  and  patrons,  including  members  of  the 
Assembly,  Directors  of  the  Society,  and  others,  when  it 
was  agreed  that  a  statement  of  the  case  should  be  made 
by  the  Directors,  in  the  form  of  a  Circular  Letter. 
This  letter  was  written  by  Dr.  Elisha  P.  Swift,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  and  submitted  to  the  Executive 
Committee,  under  date  of  June  27,  1836.  It  is  worthy 
of  his  great  ability,  suitable  to  the  grave  responsibilities 
of  the  situation,  and  admirable  in  its  Christian  spirit. 
It  is  here  inserted  in  full. 

"  Dear  Brethren  :  It  devolves  upon  us,  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  to  address  you  in  its  behalf, 
under  circumstances  of  unanticipated  and  extraordinary 
embarrassment. 

"  The  General  Assembly  of  1835,  as  you  are  doubtless 
aware,  appointed  a  Committee,  to  treat  with  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburgh  on  the  subject  of  the  transfer  of  the  Society, 
with  all  its  missions  and  its  funds,  to  the  supreme  judica- 
tory of  our  Church  ;  and  authorized  and  empowered  that 
Committee,  if  they  could  obtain  terms  which  to  them  ap- 
peared satisfactory,  to  ratify  and  confirm  a  contract  to 
that  effect.  At  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod,  that 
Committee  submitted,  with  an  authentic  certification  of 
their  appointment  and  of  their  plenary  powers,  certain 
propositions  and  articles  to  which  they  were  prepared,  in 
the  name  of  the  Assembly,  to  accede  ;  and  which  required 
the  virtual  rehnquishment  by  the  Synod,  from  and  after 
its  assent  to  them,  of  all  jurisdiction  over  the  Society  and 
its  operations.   The  existing  Board,  by  the  joint  authority 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.    SOCIETY.        203 

of  the  Assembly's  Committee  and  the  Synod,  was  to  con- 
tinue its  superintendence  until  a  new  Board  should  be 
apiDointed.  The  Synod,  impressed  with  the  behef  that 
there  were  interspersed  through  various  parts  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  a  large  number  of  our  body  by 
whom  an  ecclesiastical  organization  for  foreign  missions 
was  earnestly  desired  ;  and  whose  zeal,  energy,  and  affec- 
tionate co-operation,  in  the  work  of  sending  the  Gospel  to 
the  Heathen,  could  be  secured  only  by  such  a  plan  ;  and 
sensible  that  no  one  Synod  could  properly  claim  the  rio-ht 
to  direct  the  operations  of  an  important  branch  of 
Christian  enterprise  in  which  many  others  were  equally 
interested,  and  which  they  were  expected  to  sustain,  came 
to  the  determination,  after  protracted  and  prayerful 
dehberation,  to  accept  the  overtures  of  the  Assembly;  and 
did  forthwith,  as  all  parties  fully  understand  the  act,  ful- 
fil the  only  remaining  condition  of  the  contract. 

"To  the    Synod,  as  they  were    invited  to   form   an 
an-angement  in  which  their  missionaries  abroad  and  their 
chui'ches   at  home   were  deeply  interested,  the  inquiiy 
naturally  enough  arose,  whether  the  Church,  by  her  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of   one  year,  could  bind  herself  in  a  con- 
tract which  would  be,  in  its  essential  principles,  beyond 
the  control  of  her  Assembhes  of  other  years;  and  whether 
she  could  do  that  by  her  agents  which  she  had  power  to 
do  herself.     It  need  hardly  be  said,  that  these  questions 
admitted  of  but  one  answer.     The  acts  of  the  Chui'cli,  by 
her  General  Assembly,  like  those  in  the  case  of  any  other 
representative  body,  assume  dififerent  forms,  according  to 
the  subjects  to  which  they  refer.     When  they  belong  to 
the  class  of  contracts  involving  pecuniary  considerations 
and  the  rights  of  others,  as  where  the  Assembly  accepts 
donations  and  bequests,  to  be  used  or  held  in  tinist  for 
particular  objects,  the  irrepealable  obligation  of  the  en- 
gagement is  apparent  to  every  mind,  and  is  recognized  in 
every  court  of  justice.    The  second  inquiry  admitted,  if 


204  PRESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

possible,  a  still  more  obvious  solution  than  the  first,  as  tbe 
General  Assembly,  by  its  Trustees  and  Boards  of  Direc- 
tion, was  every  year  making  bargains  and  executing  trusts 
not  less  permanent  or  responsible  than  that  which  was 
now  contemplated.  The  Synod,  therefore,  in  good  faith, 
entered  into  an  engagement,  which  it  was  foreseen  would 
in  the  meantime  necessarily  occasion  a  serious  interrup- 
tion of  business,  and  eventually  prove  a  heavy  pecuniary 
loss  to  the  Society,  if  the  operations  were  not  promptly 
carried  forward  by  the  Assembly.  As  the  Society  was 
sustaining  no  unpropitious  missions,  and  was  possessed 
of  funds  far  beyond  all  present  demand,  the  Board  did 
not  look  upon  it  as  an  act  of  condescension  on  the  part  of 
the  Church,  to  adopt  the  Society  as  its  own  ;  and  as  the 
Board  had  uniformly  maintained  towards  their  fellow- 
laborers  of  the  American  Board  the  most  amicable  relations, 
they  did  not  think  of  giving  offense,  even  to  its  most 
ardent  friends  in  the  communion  of  our  Church,  by  co- 
operating in  an  arrangement  which  could  only  put  the 
advocates  of  ecclesiastical  organization  on  a  par  with  their 
brethren,  while  it  would  obviously  increase  the  amount  of 
good  to  be  achieved. 

"  The  General  Assembly,  as  you  have  doubtless  heard, 
after  a  protracted  discussion,  resolved  not  to  fulfil  the 
provisions  of  this  arrangement,  nor  receive  the  Society 
which  had  thus  been  transferred  to  them.  When  that 
portion  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  who  were  then  present 
in  Pittsburgh,  found  the  missionary  operations  of  the 
Society  thus  left  unprovided  for,  and  themselves  without 
the  opportunity  of  consultation  with  the  Synod,  they 
resumed  their  deliberations,  and  adopted  a  resolution 
inviting  those  members  of  the  Assembly  who  had  voted 
for  the  transfer  to  unite  in  an  expression  of  their  views 
as  to  the  course  proper  to  be  pursued.  Such  a  meeting 
was  accordingly  convened,  and  resolutions  were  unani- 
mously passed,  recommending  to  the  Board  to  resume  its 


TRANSFER  OF  THE   W.    F.   M.    SOCIETY.        205 

functions  ;  expressing  it  as  the  sense  of  the  meeting,  that 
every  one  then  present  should  use  his  influence  within  the 
bounds  of  his  respective  Presbytery  to  make  the  condi- 
tion and  the  wants  of  the  "Western  Foreign  IMissionary 
Society  known  to  the  churches,  and  obtain  for  it  all  possi- 
ble funds,  both  from  contributions  at  the  monthly  concert, 
and  in  other  ways,  to  be  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  of 
each  Presb}i;ery,  and  by  him  transmitted  to  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Board — '  That,  in  resuming  the  work  of  missions, 
the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  is  hereby  assiu-ed 
of  om*  confidence  and  zealous  co-operation  ;  and  that  where 
suitable  agents  cannot  be  obtained  to  visit  the  churches 
we  will  encourage  the  members  of  our  Presbyteries  to 
undertake  volimtary  agencies  for  the  benefit  of  the  same.' 

"  As  the  decision  of  the  General  Assembly  may  possibly 
be  thought  to  have  originated  in  some  objection  to  the 
Society  itself,  or  the  character  of  its  missionaries,  and  may 
thus  be  constnied  to  its  disadvantage  in  its  future  opera- 
tions, it  may  be  proper  to  say,  that,  with  the  exception  of 
one  of  the  speakers,  who  animadverted  with  some  severity 
upon  the  Committee  for  having  received,  as  a  missionaiy 
under  its  care,  a  brother  not  in  connection  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Chui'ch,  nothing  was  said  which  could  justl}'  im- 
peach the  credit  of  the  Society  before  the  Christian 
public.  It  was  indeed  urged  against  its  adoj)tion  by  the 
supreme  judicatory  of  our  Chui'ch  : 

"  1.  That  it  might  involve  us  in  collision  with  the  Ameri- 
can Board,  and  produce  division  and  strife  ;  but  it  was 
not  alleged  that  the  Society  had,  in  past  years,  incurred 
this  imputation  ;  nor  was  it  shown  that  Christian  candor 
and  fairness  rcquii'ed  the  Church  to  oppose  an  ecclesiasti- 
cal Board  on  this  ground,  while  it  unhesitatingly  encour- 
aged a  voluntary  one  ;  in  other  words,  that  this  difficulty, 
if  it  should  prove  one,  ought  to  annihilate  our  institution 
only,  while  it  encouraged  and  supported  that  of  our  Con- 
gregational brethren. 


206  PEESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

"2,  It  was  said,  that,  if  the  sanction  of  the  General 
Assembly  -were  given  to  a  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  that 
board  might  claim,  on  its  authority,  the  aid  and  co- 
operation of  such  parts  of  the  Church  as  desired  to  give 
their  support  to  the  American  Board  ;  but  it  was  not 
shown  that  a  refusal  to  countenance  such  a  board  at  all, 
might  not  be  equally  construed  to  mean  that  the  Assem- 
bly expected  all  its  Presbyteries  and  churches  to  patronize 
that  institution  ;  nor  was  it  shown  that  the  other  Boards 
of  the  Assembly  have  ever  been  able  to  make  such  a  use 
of  their  authority. 

"  3.  It  was  urged,  that  it  should  be  the  purpose  of  all 
Christians,  in  sending  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen,  to  lay 
aside  all  denominational  peculiarities,  and  present  Chris- 
tianity to  the  heathen  only  in  those  aspects  in  which  the 
opinions  of  aU  evangelical  believers  agree.  But  the  same 
brother,  who  so  eloquently  urged  this  theory,  did,  in  a 
previous  argument,  on  the  same  subject,  attempt  to  show 
that  the  American  Board  was  more  of  a  Presbyterian  than 
a  Congregational  institution  ;  and  consequently  liable  to 
the  same  objections  which  were  preferred  against  ours. 
The  argument  itself,  if  just,  would  have  gone  as  truly  to 
subvert  all  existing  missionary  boards  as  to  oppose  the 
reception  of  ours,  since  no  one  of  them  pretends  to  act 
upon  the  principle  which  it  sustained. 

"  4.  It  was  urged  (and  these  four  comprise  the  principal 
objections  which  were  mentioned  in  the  debate)  that  the 
reception  of  the  Board  under  the  care  of  the  Assembly 
would  be  inconsistent  with  pledges  already  given  to  the 
American  Board  ;  and,  at  least,  it  would  imply  a  want  of 
confidence  in  the  wisest  and  best  conducted  missionary 
institution  on  earth.  But  those  who  supported  the  meas- 
m-e,  and  some  who  opposed  it,  denied  the  propriety  of 
pursuing  any  such  course  of  reasoning.  Thus,  without 
going  further  into  particulars,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
Assembly  did  not  profess  to  have  discovered  in  the  char- 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.    M.   SOCIETY.         207 

acter  or  operations  of  this  Society  any  thing  which  should 
induce  its  former  friends  to  withdraw  from  it;  nor  should 
the  course  and  issue  of  a  discussion,  in  which  its  consti- 
tuted officers  took  no  pai-t,  an-ay  the  prejudices  of  any 
portion  of  the  community  against  it. 

"Of  the  decision  of  the  Assembly  itself  we  forbear  to 
speak.     For  the  majority  in  this  case  we  entei-tain  great 
respect,  as  brethren  and  fellow-laborers  in  the  service  of 
our  Lord.     We  attentively  hstened  to  most  of  the  discus- 
sion, and  we  have  since  carefuDy,  and  we  hope  candidly 
and  prayerfuUy,  weighed  the  reasons  embodied  in  their- 
answer  to  the  protest  of  the  minority;  and  we  confess  our 
sui-prise  that,  on  gi-ounds  to  us  so  insufficient,  they  should 
have  thought  it  their  duty  to  suppress,  by  efforts  so  strenu- 
ous and  by  a  majority  so  small  (110  to  106),  a  plan  which 
could  hardly  fail  to  insure  a  more  universal  diffusion  of 
the  spii-it  of  foreign  missions,  and  to  promote,  in  the  pres- 
ent excited  state  of  our  Church,  a  feeling  of  harmony 
among  its  members.     What  if  the  preceding  Assembly 
had  been  indiscreet,  and  had  conferred  upon  its  committee 
'  unwarrantable  and  improper  powers  '  ?    It  does  not  in- 
vahdate  a  contract,  that  it  was  prematurely  or  unwisely 
entered  into  (Psalm  xv.  4)  nor  does  it  prove  that  the  object 
itself  is  inexpedient.    What  if  a  majority  of  the  last  Assem- 
bly preferred  a  voluntary  to  an  ecclesiastical  organization, 
theii-  concurrence  in  the  adoption  of  the  Society  involved 
no  sacrifice  of  opinion,  and  left  them  at  full  liberty  for- 
mally to  decline  aU  co-operation  with  any  but  the  American 
Board.     Nor  is  this  all.     The  constitution  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  manifestly  contains  the  presumption,  that 
operations  of  this  kind  ai-e  to  be  carried  on  church-wise 
(Form  of  Gov.,  chap.  18),  and  consequently  presents  the 
impossibmty  of  securing  a  general  ecclesiastical  organiza- 
tion,  but  through   the  General  Assembly.     Now  when 
almost  all  the  larger  denominations  of  evangehcal  Chiis- 
tians  both  in  Europe  and  America,  including  the  Church 


208  PRESBYTEKIAN  MISSIONS. 

of  Scotland  from  whicli  we  derive  our  origin,  have  adopted 
the  ecclesiastical  form  of  foreign  missionary  operation,  it 
is  hard  to  see  how  a  conscientious  member  of  a  Presby- 
terian Assembly,  bound  by  his  ordination  vows  to  study 
the  prosperity  of  that  church,  should  feel  himself  required 
to  prohibit  that  church  from  embodying  its  yet  unapplied 
strength  in  the  most  important  of  Christian  efforts.  That, 
in  a  course  to  us  so  unexpected,  our  brethren  sincerely 
intended  to  glorify  God,  and  promote  the  salvation  of  a 
perishing  world,  we  would  not  deny  ;  but,  it  is  our  per- 
suasion, that,  on  cool  reflection,  they  will  find  occasion  to 
regret  that  the  influence  of  excited  feeling  on  other  and 
irrelevant  questions,  has  unduly  obtruded  itself  into  one 
which  makes  a  solemn  claim  to  separate  and  dispassionate 
consideration.  In  the  present  state  of  our  Chui'ch,  could 
such  a  decision  be  expected  to  increase  the  amount  of 
effort  for  benighted  lands  ?  In  so  far  as  it  disappoints 
the  wishes  of  probably  at  least  one-half  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  it  should  be  met  with  the  candor,  meekness,  and 
charity  which  become  the  followers  of  Christ,  at  aU  times, 
and  which  especially  befits  this  sacred  enterprise. 

"In  the  course  of  argument  pursued  in  the  Assembly, 
there  was  one  point  which  we  seem  required  to  notice. 
Portions  of  letters  from  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the 
American  Board,  recently  pubHshed,  were  read  in  the  de- 
bate to  show  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  '  had  no  occa- 
sion to  withdraw  its  confidence '  in  the  wisdom  and  fidelity 
of  that  Board  ;  and  it  was  generally  understood  that  these 
letters  were  intended  to  bear  upon  the  decision  which  the 
Assembly  were  expected  to  make  of  the  question  of  the 
appointment  of  the  new  Board.  Whether  this  was  strictly 
proper  after  the  committee  had  given  its  pledge  to  the 
Synod  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly  we  will  not  pretend 
to  say.  Our  only  object  is  to  say  in  reference  to  this  mat- 
ter, that  it  is  certainly  doing  injustice  to  the  friends  of 
this  measure,  to  suppose  that  their  preference  of  an  eccle- 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.    M.   SOCIETY.        209 

siastical  arrangement  implies  any  such  want  of  confidence. 
It  woold  certainly  be  deemed  unkind  to  impute  to  our 
Congi'egational  brethren,  motives  like  this,  when  they  ex- 
hibit their  preferences.  So  far  as  good  men  are  persuaded 
to  believe  that  such  an  intention  is  cherished  by  us,  as  a 
Society  for  Foreign  Missions,  they  may  be  expected  to 
withhold  their  sympathies  and  their  prayers  from  us;  and, 
as  we  are  now  required  to  go  on  with  our  labors,  it  stands 
us  in  hand  to  fortify  ourselves  against  every  injurious 
prejudice.  We  may  then  confidently  say  that  we  have,  as 
individuals  and  as  a  Board,  never  published  a  word  that 
could,  by  fair  constiniction,  be  made  to  express  the  shght- 
est  suspicion  of  this  kind.  This  Society  has  indeed  held 
out  to  such  as  preferred  our  form  of  operation  to  the  other 
an  invitation  to  co-operate  in  sending  the  Gospel  to  the 
heathen  ;  but  it  has  spoken  of  the  American  Board  in  the 
highest  terms  of  respect  and  confidence.  To  assume  it, 
therefore,  as  true  that  all  desu'e  for  another  and  an  eccle- 
siastical Board,  must  imply  a  want  of  confidence  in  that, 
and  then  go  on  to  reason  against  the  measure  as  though 
it  were  intended  to  create  and  sustain  suspicion  and  dis- 
turb the  tranquillity  and  confidence  of  the  churches,  must 
appear  to  every  candid  mind  to  be  unintentionally  foster- 
ing the  very  spirit  which  it  professes  to  condemn.  "We 
should  have  passed  this  fact  in  silence,  if  it  had  not 
awakened  in  us  a  desire  to  guard,  if  possible,  against 
future  misunderstanding.  In  our  first  Cu'cular  Address 
to  the  churches,  published  early  in  1<S33,  wiU  be  found  the 
following  remarks  :  *In  reference  to  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  we  hope  to  cherish 
no  selfish  principle,  and  we  shall  appeal  to  no  sectarian 
feeling,  "We  do  contemplate  its  past  achievements  and  its 
present  prosperity  with  unmingled  pleasure.  Our  only 
strife  wiU  be,  to  copy  its  every  good  example,  and  try  not 
to  be  outdone  by  it  in  kind  affection  and  Chi-istian  mag- 
nanimity.    We  hope  to  be  able,  as  a  Presbyterian  Boai'd 


210  PRESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

(perhaps  in  a  feeble  and  humble  measure),  to  increase  the 
amount  of  missionary  feeling  and  effort  in  our  Church  ; 
but  certainly,  on  such  princijDles  of  mutual  harmony  and 
brotherly  co-operation  as  every  sincere  disciple  of  Christ 
wiU  desire  to  witness'  (Missionary  Chronicle,  April,  1833, 
p.  6).  But  if  the  very  existence  of  a  Presbyterian  Board — 
if  any  separate  attempt  to  *  increase  the  amount  of  mis- 
sionary feehng  and  effort  in  our  Church,'  must  be  con- 
strued to  imply  a  want  of  confidence  in  the  American 
Board,  and  a  defection  in  what  is  due  to  that  organization, 
it  would  be  a  hopeless  matter  in  our  future  operations,  as 
it  would  seem  to  have  been  in  the  past,  to  prosecute  our 
work  with  '  mutual  harmony  and  brotherly  co-operation.' 
Our  only  alternative  would  be  to  abandon  the  work  alto- 
gether, and  forever  deprive  the  perishing  heathen  of  that 
amount  of  good  which  hundreds  of  churches  might  be 
expected  to  yield  if  they  had  a  Board  of  their  own  elec- 
tion. We  desire  now  to  proceed  on  the  same  principles 
with  which  we  commenced.  And  as  we  prize  harmony 
and  good  feeling,  and  mutual  co-operation  in  the  work  of 
the  Lord,  above  almost  everything  else,  and  have  no  desire 
whatever  ta  involve  this  great  enterprise  with  any  col- 
lateral controversy  in  the  Church,  we  object  to  the  idea 
altogether,  that  our  present  and  future  existence  should 
be  held  up  to  the  churches  in  this  light.  And,  if  a  future 
General  Assembly  should  be  willing  to  own  us  among  its 
real  friends,  we  hope  and  pray  that  it  may  never  be 
thought  or  said  that  it  cannot  be  done  without  a  breach 
of  good  faith  to  that  excellent  Board,  and  the  excitement 
of  suspicion  as  to  its  wisdom  and  fidelity.  We  wish  to  do 
the  work  which  they  cannot  do  ;  but  we  also  wish  and 
pray  that  they  may  grow  and  prosper  more  and  more  in 
the  affections  of  all  good  men. 

"The  fact,  that  of  the  two  decisions  which  the  last 
Assembly  (to  say  nothing  of  the  preceding  one)  had  on 
this  question,  at  different  periods,  one  was  for  and  the 


/ 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   >r.   SOCIETY.        211 

other  against,  the  proposed  measure,  is  sufficient  evidence 
that  the  operations  of  neitlier  can  be  safely  suppressed. 
In  this  broad  land  where  churches  multijily  by  hundreds 
every  year,  and  the  resources  of  religious  men  by  thou- 
sands ;  and  which,  ere  long,  must  scud  its  missionaries  by 
hundreds  annually  to  the  four  quaiiers  of  the  globe,  who 
will  pretend  to  say,  that  there  should  be  but  one  channel, 
and  all  ecclesiastical  preferences  should  be  suppressed,  in 
order  to  the  accompHshment  of  this  end  ?     Which  would 
be  the  most  evangelical  liberality,  to  attempt  to  bring  all 
denominational  differences  to  bend  to  this,  and  cui-b  and 
fetter  their  action  until  they  should,  or  to  urge  one  and 
all  of  them  to  be  up  and  doing,  to  hasten  the  great  con- 
summation with  all  their  might ;  and  to  do  this  with  the 
expectation  that  all  hurtful  jn-ejudices  would  gradually 
vanish  away,  as  the  great  work  would  grow  upon  their 
hand,  and  nation  after  nation  come  forth  into  the  light 
and  liberty  of  the  Christian  redemption  ?    Is  it  a  matter 
of  doubt  to  any  candid  obscn-er,  whether  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary operations  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as 
such  ;  the  American  Baptist  Church,  as  such  ;  and  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  as  such ;  are  destined  to  ex- 
ert a  benign  influence  upon  the  entire  character  of  these 
respectable  denominations  ?     Could  there  be  any  prospect 
of,  or  would  there  be  any  utility  in,  their  consenting  to 
drop  aU  their  respective  peculiarities,  and  unite  in  one 
association  whose  principles  should  comprise  no  one  dis- 
tinctive feature  of  either '?   "Would  they  ever  come  together 
by  being  required  to  wait  until  they  could  thus  agree,  and, 
in  the  meantime,  leave  the  entire  heathen  world  to  perish 
in  their  sins  ?     AMiy  then  should  it  be  thought  or  repre- 
sented  as   sectarian — as  unworthy  of  our  character   as 
liberal-minded  Christians,  to  desire  to  see  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  as  such,  organized  and  embodied  in  this  great  and 
precious  seiwice  ? 

"  In  view,  then,  of  the  circumstances  in  which  we  are  now 


212  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIO'NS. 

placed  as  a  Society,  and  a  Church,  by  the  aspect  of  the 
Avorld — by  the  example  of  sister  denominations — and  by 
the  decision  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  let  us,  beloved 
brethren,  arise  with  new  energy  and  zeal,  to  prosecute  the 
too-much  neglected  work  of  foreign  missions.  Let  not  the 
disappointment  of  our  plans,  and  the  unexpected  counter- 
action of  our  reasonable  wishes,  fill  our  minds  or  the  souls 
of  our  people  with  discouragement  and  despair.  If  our 
eye  is  single — if  our  intentions  are  sincere,  we  can  present 
the  pressure  of  our  circumstances  before  the  tlirone  of  God 
with  increased  confidence.  Om*  brethren,  who,  by  such 
immense  exertions,  were  barely  able,  after  several  of  our 
friends  had  left  their  posts,  to  vote  down  the  contract,  will, 
on  reflection,  see  how  impossible  it  is  for  us  to  secure  a 
general  ecclesiastical  organization  but  through  the  General 
Assembly,  and  they  will  become  convinced  that  nothing 
can  be  gained  to  them,  much  less  to  the  cause  of  foreign 
missions,  by  attempting  to  prevent  it ;  throwing  upon 
themselves,  as  it  must,  a  great  amount  of  responsibility, 
and  giving  no  additional  acceptability  to  the  Board  for 
whose  sake  they  propose  to  do  it.  If  we  are  active,  and 
prompt,  and  prayerful,  in  the  cause  ;  if  we  bring  the  for- 
eign missionary  enterprise  before  the  minds  of  our  people, 
and  before  God,  with  a  growing  conviction  of  its  import- 
ance, Heaven  will  listen  to  our  supplications,  and  the  Ee- 
deemer  of  Israel  will  provide.  A  question  like  this  will 
lose  nothing  by  standing  on  its  own  naked  merits  before 
the  Church  and  the  world  ;  and  our  Church  will,  in  due 
time,  award  to  us  with  little  opposition,  that  organization 
which  it  would  have  been  undesirable  to  gain  by  a  bare 
majority. 

"  In  the  meantime,  the  Board  of  the  Synod  will  resume 
its  duties  and  go  forward,  relying  upon  the  pledge  of 
active  co-operation  given  by  the  brethren  from  all  parts 
of  the  Church,  in  the  meeting  to  which  we  have  referred. 
From  the  spirit  of  that  meeting,  they  hope  and  trust  it 


TRANSFER  OF  THE   W.    F.   M.    SOCIETY.        213 

may  be  a  year  of  great  results.  In  the  provision  of  mia- 
Bionaries  and  assistant  missionaries,  as  well  as  in  the  col- 
lection of  funds,  and  the  diffusion  of  missionary  intelli- 
gence, much  aid  may  be  rendered  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee by  individual  ministers,  and  by  Presbyteries  in  all 
parts  of  the  Church  ;  and  thus  aided,  the  Board  hope  to 
keep  pace  with  the  growing  energies  of  the  churches. 
We  affectionately  entreat  our  brethren  in  the  ministiy,  in 
the  eldership,  and  in  the  communion  of  the  Church,  to 
come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  ;  and  countenance,  with 
their  contributions,  their  prayers,  and  their  best  energies, 
the  attempt  which  must  now  be  made  to  seciu'e  such  an 
organization  and  concentration  of  effort  in  this  work  ad 
these  eventful  times  require.  Our  Church  has  surely 
strength  and  vigor  enough  to  throw  off  the  obstructions 
which  oppress  her,  and  take  her  place  among  those  sister 
denominations  by  whose  ecclesiastical  ajDiJointment  the 
trumpet  of  the  Gospel  is  sounding  in  Burmah,  in  Africa, 
in  Greece,  and  the  wilds  of  America.  In  the  foiToer,  what 
conquests  over  a  dark  and  cruel  superstition  have  our 
Baptist  brethren  begun  to  realize,  and  what  trophies  of 
theii'  piety  and  zeal  are  our  Methodist  brethren  endeavor- 
ing to  rear  up  on  the  shores  of  paganism  ?  Unawakened 
by  these  and  other  examples,  is  our  body  to  sit  stiU,  or  to 
append  its  contributions  to  another  institution,  and  never 
make  its  voice  distinctly  heard  in  the  great  and  eventful 
day  of  the  conversion  of  the  nations  ?  This  enterprise  is 
God's  and  not  man's  ;  and  every  Christian,  and  every  de- 
nomination, must  expect  to  forfeit  the  richest  influences 
of  His  grace,  if  there  be  neglect  and  defection  when  the 
chief  Captain  of  the  hosts  mai'shals  His  forces  for  the  day 
of  His  power.  Ye  watchmen  of  Israel !  what  of  the  night  ? 
Are  not  the  circumstances  of  the  world  eventful?  Are 
they  not  such  as  to  show  that  all  our  Sabbath-schools 
should  be  nurseries  of  the  missionary  spirit?  that  our 
monthly  concei'ts  should  be  replenished  with  the  spirit  of 


214  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

grace  and  supplication,  and  that  all  our  judicatories  and 
cliurches,  in  hope,  in  zeal,  and  activity,  be  as  those  who 
wait  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord  ?  Surely  then  our  Church 
will  arise,  and  not  remain  inactive,  to  wait  for  the  realiza- 
tion of  a  beautiful  theory  of  missions,  or  for  fear  that  she 
may  offend  others  by  fulfilling  the  command  of  Christ 
herself.  May  the  God  of  missions  pour  out  His  Spirit 
upon  us — raise  up  many  devoted,  heroic  missionaries  for 
the  work,  and  cause  the  blessing  of  many  ready  to  perish 
to  come  upon  us !     Amen." 

FINAL  MINUTES  OF        Bstween  the  meetings  of  the  Gen- 
THE  WESTERN       BFal  Asscmblies  of  1836  and  1837, 
FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  the  friends  of  the  Western  Society 
SOCIETY.  gave  time,  reflection,  and  prayer  to 

the  subject  of  their  Christian  duty.  The  Assembly's 
adverse  action  was  taken  by  so  small  a  majority  as  not 
to  settle  the  question ;  it  was  doubtful  from  the  two 
votes  of  the  Assembly  whether  the  majority  was  really 
adverse.  But  the  question  involved  such  important 
principles  and  such  grave  issues,  that  the  Society's  sup- 
porters felt  constrained  to  go  forward,  notwithstanding 
serious  discouragements.  Still  maintaining  the  organiza- 
tion of  their  Missions  under  Church  direction  and  super- 
vision, they  were  led  to  decide  on  two  changes,  both 
looking  to  more  general  and  efficient  measures.  One 
was  to  substitute  Presbyterian  for  Western  in  the  name, 
and  the  other  to  remove  the  seat  of  operations  to  the  city 
of  New  York — all  parties  consenting. 

Following  the  dates  of  events,  the  last  Minutes  of  the 
Society,  printed  as  an  Appendix  by  the  author,  are  here 
inserted.  They  were  adopted  prior  to  the  Assembly's  pro- 
ceedings of  1837,  but  at  the  usual  time  when  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  Society  was  held.  They  show  that  its 
purpose  was  onward,  by  the  blessing  of  God.] 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.    M.   SOCIETY.        215 

"Philadelphia,  May  23,  1837. 
"  Agreeably  to  tlie  Constitution  of  the  Western  For- 
eign Missionary  Society,  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  was  held  in  the  session  room  of  the 
Sixth  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  Tuesday, 
May  23,  1837,  at  half-past  7  o'clock,  p.m." 

The  names  of  the  members  of  the  Board,  and  of  the 
Directors  of  the  Society,  are  then  given  in  detail.  It 
appears  that  there  had  been  appointed,  live  representa- 
tives of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  and  six  of  the  Synod 
of  Philadelphia.  The  Presbyteries  of  Alleghany, 
Blairsville,  Carlisle,  Erie,  Kaskaskia,  Louisville,  Miami, 
IN'ew  Castle,  Philadelphia,  Philadelphia  2d,  Redstone, 
Sidney,  and  Susquehanna,  had  also  each  appointed  rep- 
resentatives, agreeably  to  a  provision  of  the  Constitution  ; 
of  whom  twenty-six  were  present.  The  minutes  con- 
tinue as  follows : 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Green,  Yice-President,  opened  the  meeting 
with  prayer. 

"The  following  resolution,  submitted  by  the  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  Mr.  Lowrie,  after  full  deliberation, 
was  decided  in  the  affirmative  : 

"Jiesolved,  That  the  interests  of  the  Missionary  cause, 
as  connected  with  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  require  a  change  of  location  of  the  centre  of  its 
operations  from  the  city  of  Pittsburgh.'' 

With  two  exceptions,  all  the  members  present  voted 
for  this  resolution.   The  minutes  then  proceed  as  follows : 
"The  Rev.  David  Elliot,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  T.  D. 
Baird,  being  members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  after 
the  above  members  had  voted,  expressed  their  acqui- 
escence in  the  above  vote  in  the  affirmative. 
^''Nmjs — none. 
"The  constitution  of   the  Society  requires,  that  to 


216  PEESBYTEEIA.N  MISSIONS. 

carry  the  affirmative  of  the  above  question,  there  be  a 
majority  in  the  affirmative  of  all  the  members  of  the 
Board  existing  at  the  time ;  and  there  being  26  votes 
out  of  the  35,  the  resolution  was  adopted. 

"  The  following  resolution  was  then  submitted,  viz. : 
^' Hesolved,   That  the   centre   of  operations  of    the 
Society  be,  for  the  present,  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

"  After  an  interchange  of  sentiment  till  a  late  hour, 
the  Board  adjourned  till  half-past  8  o'clock  to-morrow. 

"  Wednesday,  May  24,  1837. 
"  The  Board  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  was 
opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elliot. 

"  The  consideration  of  the  unfinished  business  was  re- 
sumed, and  after  full  deliberation,  was  decided  in  the 
affirmative. 

"  The  Corresponding  Secretary  laid  before  the  Board 
the  following  paper,  which  had  been  read  by  him  on 
yesterday : 

" '  In  order  to  facilitate  the  plan  of  the  contemplated 
removal  of  the  centre  of  the  operations  of  the  Western 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  to  provide  for  the 
organization  of  an  Executive  Committee,  in  the  place  to 
which  the  said  centre  may  be  removed,  we,  the  under- 
signed, members  of  the  Board,  do  hereby  resign  our 
seats  in  the  same,  that  our  places  may  be  filled,  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  with  persons  residing  near 
the  future  location  of  the  Society. 

'  Francis  Hereon. 
'  Robert  Patterson. 
'E.  P.  Swift. 
'John  Hannen. 
'Samuel  Thompson. 
'  Alexander  Semple. 

*  Alexander  Laughlin. 
'Pittsburgh,  April  24,  1837.' 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        217 
"  On  motion, 

"Jiesolved,  That  the  above  vacancies  in  the  Board  of 
Directors  be  filled  with  the  following  named  persons: 
"  Rev.  W.  W.  Phillips,  D.D.      Rev.  E.  W.  Crane. 
"     Joseph  McElroj,  D.D.     Mr.  James  Lenox. 
"     JohnM.  Krebs.  «    James  Paton. 

"     Nicholas  Mm-ray. 

''Resolmd further,  That  the  above  named  persons  be 
appointed  members  of  the  Executive  Committee ;  and 
that  Alexander  Symington,  Esq.,  be  the  President 
of  the  Society,  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.D.,  Vice- 
President,  and  Mr.  James  Paton,  Treasurer. 
"  On  motion, 

''Resolved,  That  the  name  and  style  of  the  Society  be 
'  The  Presbyterian  Foreign  Missionary  Society.' 
"  On  motion, 

''Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Francis  Eerron,  D.D  Rev 
David  Elliot,  D.D.,  Rev.  T.  D.  Baird,  Rev.  E.  P.  Swift," 
D.D.,  Rev.  John  Nevin,  Rev.  Robert  Patterson,  Walter 
H.  Lowrie,  Samuel  Thompson,  Alexander  Semple,  John 
Ilannen,  and  Alexander  Laughlin,  of  the  city  of  Pitts- 
burgh and  vicinity,  be  a  Board  of  Agency  for  the  Pres- 
byterian Foreign  Missionary  Society,  for  the  Western 
States  \  with  such  powers  as  may  be  necessary  to  aid  the 
Executive  Committee  in  the  appointment  of  Agents  for 
bringing  out  the  resources  of  the  churches  in  the  West- 
ern States,  and  for  conducting  the  missionary  operations 
among  the  Indian  tribes. 

"Adjourned  to  meet  on  Friday,  the  26th  instant,  at 
half-past  7  o'clock,  p.m.,  in  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church. 


218  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

"Feiday  Evening,  May  26,  1837. 

"The  Board  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  at  the 
Central  Presbyterian  Church.  This  being  the  evening 
appointed  for  the  public  Anniversary  of  the  Society,  a 
large  assembly  being  present,  the  Rev.  James  Blythe, 
D.D.,  opened  the  meeting  with  prayer. 

"  Extracts  of  the  annual  report  were  read  by  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary. 

"  Addresses  were  then  made  by  the  Rev.  Archibald 
Alexander,  D.D.,  Rev.  R.  J.  Breckinridge,  Rev.  John 
A.  Mitchell,  and  the  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Plumer ;  and,  at  a 
late  hour,  the  congregation  was  dismissed. 

"  The  Board  continuing  in  session,  on  motion  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Cuyler, 

^^Resolved,  That  the  Annual  Report  be  adopted,  and 
that  it  be  published  and  distributed  under  the  direction 
of  the  Executive  Committee. 

^^Resohed,  That  the  Rev.  George  Potts  and  Moses 
Allen,  Esq.,  be  appointed  members  of  the  Board,  in  the 
room  of  the  Rev.  David  Elliot,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  T. 
D.  Baird,  resigned,  and  that  Mr.  Allen  be  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee. 

"  Adjourned  to  meet  in  Baltimore,  the  last  Friday  in 
October  next." 

The  Board  of  the  "Western,  now  the  Presbyterian, 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  held  its  last  meeting  in 
Baltimore  at  the  time  specified  in  the  foregoing  adjourn- 
ment ;  but  did  no  business,  except  that  which  related  to 
the  transfer  of  all  its  concerns,  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America.  Communications  had  been  received 
from  the  Synods  of  Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia,  the 
former  of  which  had  passed,  and  the  latter  had  subse- 
quently adopted,  the  two  following  resolutions : 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  W.   F.   M.   SOCIETY.        219 

''Eesolved,  1st,  That  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Presbyterian  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  in  so  far  as 
they  derive  authority  from  us,  be  and  they  hereby  are 
empowered  and  directed  to  transfer  to  tlie  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  meet  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore  on  the  31st  instant,  the  said  Society, 
with  all  its  funds.  Missions,  and  papers. 

''Resolved,  2d,  That  the  members  of  the  said  Board  of 
the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  now  acting 
in  the  same  by  virtue  of  appointments  made  by  this 
Synod,  be  authorized  and  appointed  to  act,  from  and 
after  this  date,  so  long  as  may  be  necessary  duly  and 
properly  to  execute  the  said  transfer,  and  no  longer,  at 
which  time  the  said  Board  shall  be  considered  as  dis- 
solved." 

The  foregoing  resolutions  were  passed  by  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburgh  on  the  26th  of  October,  and  b/  the 
Synod  of  Philadelphia  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month, 
1837.  On  the  day  after  the  last  mentioned  date,  the  fol- 
lowing paper  was  laid  before  the  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, viz. : 

"We,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  Board   of 
Directors  of  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
deriving  our  authority  from  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  in 
pursuance  of  the  direction  of  the  said  Synod,  in ''their 
resolution  of  the  26th  October,  1837,  do  hereby  transfer 
to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  said  Society,  with  all  its  funds.  Missions, 
and  papers.    It  being  understood,  that  this  transfer  shall 
not  in  any  manner  affect  or  annul  the  principles  on  which 
the  missionaries  now  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytenan 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  from  the  Pteformed  Pres- 
byterian Church,  were  received  ;  but  the  said  mission- 
aries shall  sustain  the  same  relation  to  the  Board  of  For- 


220  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

eign  Missions  of  the  General  Assembly,  whieli  they  have 
sustained  to  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

"  Walter  Loweie. 

"William  W.  Phillips. 

"  Nicholas  Mueeay. 

"  James  Lenox. 

"  John  M.  Keebs. 
♦•Baltimobe,  October  81, 1837." 


FINAL  ACTION  OF  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY. 

IN  the  same  year,  a.d.  1837,  the  following  transactions 
took  place.  This  Minute  embodies  the  Constitution 
of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

"Wednesday  Morning,  June  7,  1837:  The  Commit- 
tee on  Overture  No.  7,  viz. :  the  overture  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Salem,  on  the  subject  of  foreign  missions, 
made  a  report,  which  was  accepted,  and  adopted,  by  yeas 
and  nays,  as  follows,  viz. : 

"  1.  Resolved^  That  the  General  Assembly  will  super- 
intend and  conduct,  by  its  own  proper  authority,  the 
work  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
by  a  Board  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  directly 
amenable  to  said  Assembly. 

"  2.  The  General  Assembly  shall  at  its  present  meet- 
ing, choose  forty  ministers  and  forty  laymen,  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  one-fourth  part 
of  whom  shall  go  out  annually,  in  alphabetical  order ; 
and  thereafter  ten  ministers  and  ten  laymen  shall  be 
annually  elected  as  members  of  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  whose  term  of  office  shall  be  four  years ;  and 
these  forty  ministers  and  forty  laymen,  so  appointed, 
shall  constitute  a  Board  to  be  styled,  '  The  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America,'  to  which,  for  the  time  being, 
shall  be  intrusted,  with  such  directions  and  instructions 
as  may  from  time  to  time  be  given  by  the  General 
Assembly,  the  superintendence  of  the  foreign  missionary 

(221) 


222  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

operations  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  This  Board  shall 
make  aniiuallj  to  tlie  General  Assembly  a  report  of  their 
proceedings,  and  submit  for  its  approval  such  plans  and 
measures  as  may  be  deemed  useful  and  necessary. 

"3.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  their  first 
meeting  at  such  time  and  place  as  may  be  directed  by 
the  present  General  Assembly,  and  shall  hold  a  meeting 
annually,  at  some  convenient  time  during  the  sessions  of 
the  General  Assembly,  at  which  it  shall  appoint  a 
President,  Yice-President,  a  Corresponding  Secretary,  a 
Treasurer,  and  an  Executive  Committee,  to  serve  for  the 
ensuing  year.  It  shall  belong  to  the  Board  of  Directors 
to  review  and  decide  upon  all  the  doings  of  the  Execu- 
tive  Committee ;  to  receive  and  dispose  of  their  annual 
report,  and  to  present  a  statement  of  their  proceedings 
to  the  General  Assembly.  It  shall  be  their  duty,  also, 
to  meet  for  the  transaction  of  business  as  often  as  may 
be  expedient,  due  notice  of  every  special  meeting  being 
seasonably  given  to  every  member  of  the  Board. 

"  4,  To  the  Executive  Committee,  consisting  of  not 
more  than  nine  members  beside  the  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary and  the  Treasurer,  shall  belong  the  duty  of  appoint- 
ing all  missionaries  and  agents ;  of  designating  their  fields 
of  labor;  receiving  the  reports  of  the  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  giving  him  needful  directions  in  reference 
to  all  matters  of  business  and  correspondence  intrusted 
to  him  ;  to  authorize  all  appropriations  and  expenditures 
of  money  ;  and  to  take  the  particular  direction  and  man- 
agement of  the  foreign  missionary  work,  subject  to  the 
revision  and  control  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  The 
Executive  Committee  shall  meet  at  least  once  a  month, 
and  oftener  if  necessary ;  five  members,  meeting  at  the 
time  and  place  of  adjournment  or  special  call,  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum.     The  committee  shall  have  power  to 


FINAL  ACTION  OF  THE  GENEKAL  ASSEMBLY.  223 

fill  their  own  vacancies,  if  any  occur  during  the  recess 
ot  the  Uoard  of  Directors. 

"5.  All  property,  liouses,  lands,  tenements,  and  per- 
manent funds,  belonging  to  the  said  Board  of  Foreic^a 
Missions,  shall  be  taken  in  the  name  of  the  Trustees  of 
the  General  Assembly,  and  held  in  trust  by  them  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  'The  Eoard  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
Presbyterian  Churcli  in  the  United  States  of  America,' 
for  the  time  being. 

"6.  The  seat  of  operations  of  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors shall  be  designated  by  the  Board. 

^'7.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power,  and 
they  are  hereby  authorized  to  receive  a  transfer  of  the 
Foreign  Missionary  Societies,  or  either  of  them,  now  ex- 
isting in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  all  the  missions 
and  funds,  under  the  care  of  and  belonging  to  such 
societies.— Yeas,  108;  Nays,  29. 

"  Mr.  Plumer  offered  the  following  resolutions,  which 
were  adopted,  viz. : 

"1.  EesoUed,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
nominate  Directors  for  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions, 
ihe  names  of  ministers  and  elders  as  Directors  were 
nominated  by  the  Committee  and  elected  by  the  General 
Assembly.     [See  Minutes  G.  A.,  June  7,  1837  ] 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  be 
directed  to  hold  their  first  meeting  in  the  First  Presby 
tenan  Church,  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  on  Tuesday,  the 
31st  of  October  next,  at  3  o'clock  p.m." 

Thus,  at  length,  were  the  wishes  and  pravei-s  answered 
of  those  who  had  long  and  earnestly  desired  to  see  a 
l^oard  of  Foreign  Missions,  under  ecclesiastical  appoint- 
ment and  responsibility,  established  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  the  United  States,  acting  in  its  distinctive 
character. 


224  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

[The  missionary  discussions  in  the  General  Assembly 
were  now  ended.  They  turned  on  the  question,  whether 
the  cause  and  work  of  foreign  missions  should  be  con- 
ducted by  the  organized  Church  or  by  voluntary  socie- 
ties? By  the  societies  was  not  meant  denominational 
voluntary  organizations ;  these  might  be  expedient  when 
the  greater  part  of  the  Church  was  opposed  to  missions. 
But  the  societies  referred  to  were  such  as  were  formed 
by  evangelical  Christians  of  all  denominations — as  at  first 
the  London  Missionary  Society.  The  Church  theory  was, 
and  is,  in  our  American  sense,  both  ecclesiastical  and  de- 
nominational in  its  scope.  Church  doctrine  and  Church 
government  have  a  divinely  appointed  place  in  the  work 
of  missions. 

Men  of  marked  ability  had  taken  opposite  sides  on 
this  subject,  but  yet  in  most  cases  without  unkind  feel- 
ing. It  seems  to  have  been  considered  apart  from  dis- 
cussions of  other  subjects  in  the  same  year.  A  recent 
re-perusal  of  the  G.  A.  Minutes  tends  to  confirm  the  be- 
lief that  foreign  missionary  affairs  were  considered  in  a 
Christian  spirit,  earnest  yet  not  partisan ;  in  a  zeal 
worthy  of  the  sacred  cause.  Most  Presbyterian  people, 
and  many  of  other  denominations,  now  hold  the  Church 
theory ;  but  the  particular  questions  under  discussion  in 
those  days  now  awaken  little  interest.  After  many  years 
of  divided  but  practical  and  amicable  experience,  the 
Presbyterian  Church  is  now  one  body  in  its  support  of 
this  sacred  cause. 

The  transferred  Society  brought  into  the  larger  field 
a  work  that  had  sprung  from  right  views  and  motives ; 
a  work  well  begun ;  free  from  debt ;  having  an  income 
advancing  each  year,  until  at  its  end  it  was  seven-fold 
larger  than  at  its  beginning — indeed,  larger  than  was 
then  given  to  foreign  missions  by  ail  the  other  churches 


FINAL  ACTION   OF  THE  GEiVERAL  ASSEMBLY.   225 

of  the  denomination  ;  and,  moreover,  supporting  several 
existing  missions  of  great  promise,  with  others  in  prepa- 
ration. With  the  blessing  of  God,  this  work  in  its  great 
field  has  ever  since,  under  the  direction  of  the  General 
Assembly,  steadily  gained  influence,  power,  and  blessed 
results  for  earth  and  heaven — for  time  and  eternity.] 

THE  [This,  then,  is  the  position.     "We  hold  tliat 

POSITION,  the  duty  of  missions  is  divinely  and  most  clearly 
revealed,  and  that  the  practical  measures  by  which 
this  duty  is  performed  may  be,  and  in  ordinary  times 
ought  to  be,  determined  by  the  judicatories  of  the 
Church.  These  judicatories  will  always  embrace  many 
of  the  most  able  and  experienced  men  in  our  commun- 
ion, and  their  measures  will  usually  be  governed  in  the 
long  run  by  the  public  sentiment  of  the  Church — a  pul> 
lie  sentiment  which  every  church  member  contributes 
to  form  and  has  the  power  to  influence.  We  thus  com- 
bine conservative  and  popular  principles;  the  voluntary 
power  of  numbers  with  the  safer  action  of  the  few,  who 
are  yet  responsible,  while  they  are  clothed  with  a  whole- 
some authority.  Measures,  therefore,  which,  not  being 
expressly  revealed,  are  left  to  the  wisdom  and  judgment 
of  the  Church,  in  the  study  of  Providence  and  in  answer 
to  prayer,  may  be  safely  committed  to  the  supervision 
of  our  church  courts.  This  is  true  of  missions  as 
of  other  things.  And  the  missionary  policy  which 
secures  their  approval,  after  due  consideration  and 
trial,  will  commend  itself  to  the  approbation  and  the 
support  of  the  members  at  lai*ge. 

On  what  does  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions  hinge  in 
our  Church  ?  We  answer,  not  mainly  on  questions  of 
missionary  policy ;  we  are,  for  the  most  part,  agreed 
about  them.     But  the  turning  point  of  the  whole  enter- 


226  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

prise  is  this,  that  the  hearts  of  the  people  become  inter- 
ested in  the  work.      And  how  shall  this    result    be 
obtained  ?    By  dwelling  chiefly,  we  do  not  say  exclu- 
sively, but  chiefly,  on  the  great  truths  on  which  the 
whole  work  is  founded.     Each  follower  of  Christ  will 
feel—"  I  am  commanded  by  my  Lord,  by  my  Redeemer, 
to  give  His  Gospel  to  my  fellow-men  ;  I  am  commanded 
to^  do  this.     And  if  I  have  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  I 
will  do  unto  others  as  I  would  have  them  do  unto  me 
—have  I,  then,  the   spirit  of   Christ  in  this  matter? 
Those  poor  heathens  are  dying.     Can  I  help  to  save 
them?    I   shall  meet  them   at   the  judgment-seat   of 
Christ.     Will  my  conscience,  will  my  Judge,  then  be 
satisfied  with  what  I  am  now  doing  for  their  salvation? 
Their  eternity  will  be  as  long  as  mine ;  their  souls  are 
worth  as  much  as  mine ;  their  time  here  is  as  short  as 
mine ;  their  song  of  praise  to  redeeming  grace  would 
sound  as  sweetly  as  mine.     What,  then,  am  I  doing  to 
put  them  in  possession  of  the  blessed  hopes  which  I 
enjoy  myself?     All  that  I  have  has  been  received  from 
God  through  the  blood  of  Christ.     I  am  not  my  own. 
Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do  ? "     These,  and  such 
like,  are  the  thoughts  and  feelings  which  should  fill  the 
hearts  of  all  Christians.     ISTow,  what  are  the  considera- 
tions which  will  call  these  feelings  into  life  and  invigor- 
ate them  ?     There  is  but  one  answer,  and  that  is  found 
in  the  plain  truths  of  God's  Word,  and  the  outpouring 
of  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost.] 

FIRST  MEETING       Thc  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 

OP  THE  BOARD   Presbytcrian  Church  in  the  United  States 

OF  FOREIGN     of  Amcrica  met  in  Baltimore,  agreeably 

MISSIONS.       to  the  order  of  the  General  Assembly,  on 

the  31st  day  of  October,  1837.     The  Minutes  of  this 


FINAL   ACTION  OF   THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY.   227 

meeting  were  duly  recorded  and  afterward  were  pub- 
lished in  pamphlet  form  of  twelve  pages.  They  are 
usually  bound  for  reference  with  the  Annual  Report  of 
the  Board  for  1838. 

Suitable  record  was  made  of  the  Board's  Constitution  ; 
acknowledgment  was  recorded  of  the  action  of  several 
Synods,  particularly  those  of  Pittsburgh  and  Philadel- 
phia ;  and  the  transfer  of  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society,  as  recorded  in  its  Minutes,  was  accepted 
by  the  Board  as  follows :  ^^Besolved,  That  the  transfer 
of  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Missionary  Society  to  the 
Board  be  accepted  on  the  terms  and  conditions  specified  ; 
and  that  the  Executive  Committee  be  directed  to  com- 
municate this  fact  to  the  Synods  of  Pittsburgh  and 
Philadelphia,  and  to  take  necessary  order  on  this  sub- 
ject." 

The  city  of  !N'ew  York  was  unanimously  chosen  as  the 
principal  seat  of  operations  of  the  Board.  Executive 
officers  were  elected,  viz. :  President^  Rev.  Samuel  Mil- 
ler, D.D.,  Princeton ;  Vice-President^  Gen.  "William 
McDonald,  Baltimore ;  Executive  Committee^  Rev. 
William  W.  Phillips,  D.D.,  Rev.  Joseph  McElroy,  D.D., 
Rev.  John  M.  Krebs,  Rev.  George  Potts,  Rev,  Edward 
D.  Smith,  Mr.  James  Lenox,  Mr.  Moses  Allen,  Mr. 
Henry  Rankin,  and  Mr,  Hugh  Auchincloss;  Corre- 
sponding Secretary^  Hon.  "Walter  Lowrie ;  Treasurer, 
Mr.  James  Pa  ton.  And  other  preliminary  and  usual 
measures  were  taken  for  entering  with  vigor  on  the 
work  of  the  Board. 

A  public  religious  service  was  held  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  evening.  And  after  recording 
an  expression  of  thanksgiving  to  God  for  His  great 
favor  to  this  cause,  the  Board  adjourned,  to  meet  in  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  Tuesday 


228  PKESBYTEEIAN  MISSIONS. 

after  the  first  Thursday  in  May  next,  at  3  o'clock  p.m., 
concluded  with  prayer. 

The  Central  and  the  Southern  Boards  of  Foreign 
Missions,  supported  respectively  by  the  Synods  of  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina  and  the  Synods  of  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia,  were  also  transferred  at  this  period  or 
a  little  later  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
General  Assembly.  Their  work  for  a  few  years  had 
been  connected  with  the  American  Board  ;  but  in  accord 
with  the  tenor  of  their  relations  to  that  Board,  this  trans- 
fer was  cordially  made  and  accepted. 

[The  adjournment  of  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  to  meet  in  Baltimore,  as  mentioned  on 
page  218,  suj)ra,  was  made  at  the  request  of  some  mem- 
bers, that  two  general  meetings  should  be  held  in  each 
year,  one  in  the  city  where  the  General  Assembly  met, 
the  other  in  a  different  city,  from  year  to  year.     Balti- 
more was  chosen  for  the  first  semi-annual  meeting.    This 
was  known  to  the  members  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  probably  led  to  the  order  that  the  "  first  meeting  " 
of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  should  be  held  in  that 
city,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.     And  a  meeting 
of  great  interest  and  influence  was  duly  held  there.     It 
was  a  convenient  time  and   place,  moreover,  and   it 
allowed  a  few  months'  delay  for  necessary  legal  measures 
to  be  completed  in  placing  the  Society's  now  consider- 
able property  and  its  titles  in  the  ownership  of  the  Board. 
The  policy  of  holding  semi-annual  meetings  of  the 
Board,  after  some  further  trial,  was  relinquished ;  for 
the  reason  only,  that  it  was  found  to  be  difficult,  if  not 
impracticable,  to  hold  these  fall  meetings  without  incon- 
venience to  the  autumnal  meetings  of  Presbyteries  and 
Synods.     This  precluded  the  general  attendance  of  min- 
isters and  elders  at  a  semi-annual  meeting  of  the  Board.] 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

pjROM  the  preceding  compendious  view  of  Missions 
1       in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States, 
it  appears  that  this  Church  has  not  been  altogether  in- 
sensible of  the  importance  of  so  great  and  sacred  a  con- 
cern, nor  wholly  inactive  in  the  discharge  of  her  duty. 
In  domestic  missions  her  exertions  have  been  laudable, 
and  her  efficiency  considerable;   but   in   heathen   and 
foreign  missions,  she  has  reason  to  mourn  over  her  re- 
missness, and  to  be  humbled  in  view  of  her  small  par- 
ticipation in  the  great  work  of  evangelizing  the  world. 
It  is  true  indeed,  that  since  the  revival  of  the  missionary 
spirit,  within  the  last  fifty  years,  certain  unpropitious 
circumstances,  some  of  which  the  present   sketch  has 
brought  into  view,  have  tended  to  restrain  her  efforts  in 
foreign  missionary  enterprise,  and  to  hold  her  in  com- 
parative inaction.     But  no  apology  can  justify  the  past 
neglect ;  and  far  less  would  its  continuance  admit  even 
of  palliation.     By  the  good  providence  and  gracious  in- 
terposition of  God,  the  Presbyterian  Church  in   this 
country  is,  at  present,  in  a  situation  more  favorable  than 
ever  heretofore,  for  commanding  all  her  resources,  and 
exerting  her  whole  strength  in  propagating  the  Gospel. 
The  wise  and  decisive  action  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  1837,  has  delivered  her  from  the  paralyzing  effect  of 
an  unfriendly  extraneous  influence  ;  and  having  now  her 
Boards  of  Education,  and  of  Domestic  and  Foreign  mis- 
sions, formally  and  fully  established,  free  from  internal 
as  well  as  external  counteraction,  she  has  at  her  disposal 
all  the  necessary  means  for  extensive  and  effective  oper- 
ations, in  the  foreign  as  well  as  the  domestic  missionary 

(239) 


230  PKESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

field.  It  is  now  for  her  to  justify  or  to  falsify,  the  allega- 
tion that  has  often  been  made  by  some,  not  the  most 
friendly  to  her  institutions,  that  she  has  neither  the  zeal 
nor  the  skill  indispensable  for  managing  effectively  a 
great  missionary  concern.  Every  consideration,  there- 
fore, both  of  character  and  duty,  loudly  demands  from 
all  her  children,  to  put  forth  their  whole  force,  and  to 
bring  into  action  all  their  means,  to  wipe  away  her  re- 
proach, and  to  give  her  a  vigorous  operation  in  obeying 
her  risen  Saviour's  parting  command  to  His  disciples ; 
and  to  repair,  as  far  as  it  can  be  repaired,  her  past  neglect, 
and  demonstrate  that  she  is  animated  by  a  sincere  con- 
cern for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  a  supreme  regard  to 
the  glory  of  God — in  a  degree  not  exceeded  by  any 
Church  in  Protestant  Christendom.  All  this,  her  num- 
bers and  her  resources  put  fully  in  her  power,  if  that 
power  be  exerted  under  the  influence  of  a  holy,  wisely 
directed,  and  well  tempered  zeal.  To  contribute  to  this 
high  object,  as  far  as  his  ability  extends,  let  the  author 
of  the  foregoing  sketch  be  permitted,  respectfully  to  sub- 
mit to  his  brethren  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  some 
considerations  which  appear  to  him  to  demand  a  general 
and  very  serious  attention. 

1.  The  importance  of  sustaining  our  missionary  oper- 
ations on  right  principles,  and  from  right  motives.  A 
regard  to  character  has  been  mentioned ;  and  the  com- 
mendation which  the  Apostle  Paul  bestowed  on  the 
churches  of  Acluiia,  and  his  declaration  that  their  ex- 
ample had  "provoked  very  many,"  shows  that  this 
motive  may  lawfully  have  a  degree  of  influence.  Yet 
doubtless  it  ought  to  be  subordinate  to  one  of  an  infi- 
nitely higher  order ;  for  if  the  preservation  of  character 
itself  be  not  regarded  as  subservient  to  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  promotion  of  His  cause  in  the  world,  it  loses  its 


CONCLFDING   REMARK3,  231 

chief  value.  "What  we  want  is,  that  it  sliould  be  brought 
home  to  the  licart  and  conscience  of  every  professing 
Cliristian,  male  and  female,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
that  there  is  a  palpable  defect,  a  manifest  flaw  in 
Christian  character,  so  long  as  he  or  she  does  nothing  to 
send  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen.  Surely  the  positive 
command  of  the  Saviour  to  "  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature,"  either  was  obligatory  only  on  the  apostles, 
and  their  successors,  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  or  else 
that  it  was,  and  still  is,  binding  <m  all  Christians  alike, 
each  "according  to  the  ability  that  God  giveth."  Sup- 
pose then — what  is  believed  not  to  be  the  fact — that  the 
command  of  Christ  was  intended  to  be  directly  obliga- 
tory only  on  the  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  still  the  ques- 
tion dictiited  by  inspiration  will  demand  an  answer; 
"  how  shall  they  preach  except  they  be  sent  ? "  To  be 
sent,  implies  that  he  to  whom  it  relates  goes  on  the 
errand  of  another ;  although  he  may  feel  a  deep  interest 
for  himself,  in  the  business  of  his  mission.  Professing 
Christians  then,  must  send  the  i^reachers — the  mission- 
aries who  go  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen. 
This  manifestly  involves  the  duty  of  qualifying  them  to 
be  sent,  and  of  supporting  them  in  their  missionary 
work,  in  such  manner  as  shall  enable  them  to  jjcrform  it 
with  the  greatest  elhciency  ;  so  that  this  duty  is  brought 
directly  back,  with  all  its  solenm  sanctions,  to  the  bosom 
of  every  professing  Christian.  Here  is  the  true  mission- 
ary principle;  and  it  is  the  only  principle  that  can  be 
relied  on  for  the  regular,  constant,  and  adequate  support 
of  missionary  operations.  Novelty  and  a  powerful 
appeal  to  the  feelings,  whether  of  a  popular  audience  or 
of  individuals  in  private,  will  frequently  produce  great 
tenijH^rary  effects.  But  the  influence  of  excitement  is 
always  transient,  and  is  often  followed  by  indifference. 


232  PEESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

and  sometimes  by  disgust  or  aversion.     ]^ow,  in  the 
missionary  concern,  we  want  sometljing  that  can  be  cal- 
culated  upon,  as  steadily,  permanently,  and  effectively 
operative— and  here  we  find  it.     We  find  it  in  a  deeply 
settled  principle,  working  on  the  heart  and  conscience  of 
every  Christian,  that  he  and  she  are  bound  by  the  allegi- 
ance and  the  gratitude  they  owe  to  the  Saviour,  in  whom 
is  all  their  own  hope  for  eternity,  to  send  His  soul-saving 
Gospel  to  the  millions  who,  for  want  of  it,  are  perishing 
in  ignorance  and  sin.     If  this  principle  can  be  radicated 
in  the  hearts  of  Christian  professors  generally  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  we  shall  never  know  the  want 
either  of  funds  or  of  missionaries  for  heathen  missions. 
Parents,  under  the  divine  blessing,  will  instil  the  prin- 
ciple into  the  minds  of  their  children,  the  young  will 
imbibe  it  from  the  old,  talented  and  educated  youth  will 
feel  its  constraining  power  and  covet  the  missionary 
work ;  the  widow,  too,  will  bring  her  mite,  the  poor 
man  his  dollar,  and  the  rich  man  his  hundreds  or  thou- 
sands, and   cast  them  cheerfully  into   the  consecrated 
treasury.     In  a  word,  the  Church  of  God,  in  her  em- 
bodied strength,  will  "come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty."     Ministers  of  the  Gospel  and  el- 
ders of  churches,  therefore,  should  use  incessant  efforts 
to  inculcate  this  principle,  in  every  congregation.     "  Do 
you  hold  this  principle  and   purpose,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  to  act  upon  it?"  may  not  improperly  be  a  ques- 
tion propounded  to  every  individual,  when  application 
is  made  for  the  full  communion  of  the  Church. 

2.  Before  the  world  shall  be  converted  to  God,  there 
must  be  a  practical  conviction— just  such  a  conviction 
as  some  of  our  best  missionaries,  now  among  the  heathen, 
tell  us  has  sunk  into  the  depths  of  their  souls— that 
it  is  the  power  of  God  alone,  working  by  His  Spirit  on 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS.  233 

the  minds  of  the  heathen,  that  can  ever  change  them 
— raise  them  from  the  abyss  of  their  depravity  and  aw- 
ful degradation,  renew  them  unto  hoUness,  inspire  them 
with  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  Gospel,  and  prepare 
them  for  communion  with  God  on  earth,  and  the  more 
perfect  communion  of  the  heavenly  state.  But  in  close 
connection  with  this  full  sense  of  dependence  on  God 
alone  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen,  there  will  be  a 
firm  and  lively  faith  in  God,  that  in  His  own  good  time. 
His  almighty  grace  will  actually  produce  this  effect,  not- 
withstanding all  the  wretchedness,  abandoned  vice,  and 
almost  brutal  debasement,  in  which  pagan  nations  are 
now  beheld  ;  and  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition 
which  may  be  made  from  earth  and  hell — because  He 
has  promised,  and  cannot  lie,  that  His  beloved  Son,  as 
the  reward  of  His  sufferings  and  death,  "  shall  see  of 
the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied,"  and  expressly 
"  I  shall  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  possession." 
Here,  in  the  next  place,  will  be  the  firm  foundation  for 
the  prayer  of  faith ;  prayer  which  will  take  hold  on  the 
promises  of  God  as  divine  realities,  that  must  and  will 
meet  their  accomplishment ;  prayer  which  will  plead 
for  the  fulfilment  of  the  divine  engagements  with  an 
earnestness  like  that  with  which  Jacob  wrestled  with 
the  angel  of  the  covenant ;  prayer  which  will  regard 
not  only  the  perishing  state  of  the  heathen,  but  which 
also  will  look  beyond  and  above  it — look  to  the  triumph 
of  the  Redeemer  over  the  prince  of  darkness,  in  the 
total  subversion  of  his  empire,  and  the  establishment  on 
its  ruins  of  the  kingdom  and  the  reign  of  Immannel ; 
prayer,  in  a  word,  that  will  contemplate  the  glory  of  the 
blessed  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  shining  in 
all  its  splendor,  when  the  riches  of   divine  grace  are 


234  PRESBYTERIAN   MISSIONS. 

displayed  in  the  congregated  host  of  the  elect,  gathered 
from  every  kindred  and  people  and  tongue  under 
heaven. 

Now,  as  it  is  believed  that  there  must  be  a  great  in- 
crease of  these  things,  among  Christians  in  general,  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  Millennial  age,  so  the  more  there 
is  of  them,  in  reference  to  the  missionary  operations 
now  going  on  in  our  own  and  in  other  churches,  the 
greater  will  be  the  well-founded  hope,  that  these  mis- 
sions will  be  crowned  with  a  large  and  the  most  desirable 
success.  Not  only  should  their  best  endeavors  be  used 
by  the  judicatories  of  the  church,  and  by  the  minister 
and  elders  of  particular  congregations,  to  secure  a  better 
attendance  on  the  monthly  concert,  and  a  right  manage- 
ment of  it  when  the  people  convene  for  its  observance ; 
but  in  country  places,  and  in  the  winter,  it  may  be  ex- 
pedient to  have  two  or  three  locations,  instead  of  one,  in 
which  the  people  of  a  neighborhood  may  meet  in  small 
companies  for  social  prayer,  and  other  exercises  appro- 
priate to  the  stated  season  of  devotion.  This  will  take 
away  most  of  the  ground  for  the  common  reason  assigned 
for  absence  from  the  concert,  that  the  distance  of  the 
church  from  a  large  part  of  the  congregation,  and  the 
difficulty  and  even  danger  of  travelling  in  the  dark, 
prevents  a  general  attendance.  It  ought  also  to  be  incul- 
cated on  those  who  cannot  or  do  not  attend,  that  they 
may  and  ought,  in  their  private  retirements,  to  spend 
some  time  in  special  prayer,  while  their  brethren  are 
spending  it  in  social  devotion.  If  this  be  done  with  a 
proper  frame  of  mind,  the  concert  will  be  observed  by 
those  who  are  absent,  as  well  as  by  those  who  are  pres- 
ent in  a  particular  place.  A  prayer-hearing  God  may 
be  addressed  in  any  place,  and  those  who  pray  in  private, 
in  the  manner  recommended,  may  mingle  their  peti- 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS.  235 

tioDS  and  their  praises  with  those  who  assemble  for  the 
purpose. 

3.  Dependence  on  God  for  the  success  of  missions  to 
the  benighted  pagans  ought  not  to  diminish,  but  to  in- 
crease, the  means  and  exertions  that  we  use  to  produce 
this  effect.     Tlie  great   encouragement   which   is   pre- 
sented to  us  in  the  oracles  of  inspiration,  to  be  diligent 
and  persevering  in  the  use  of  means,  is,  that  they  are  ap- 
pointed by  God,  and,  as  His  ordinary  dispensation,  indis- 
solubly   connected  with  His  blessing.     Our  Saviour's 
command  to  ask,  seek,  and  knock,  is  connected,  as  an 
encouragement,    with   the    declaration   that    "  he   that 
asketh   receiveth,  and    he  that  seeketh  findeth,  and  to 
him  that  knockcth  it  shall  be  opened" — and  this  dec- 
laration, or   promise,  is,  by  himself,  directly  applied  to 
the   gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit.     "H  ye  then  being  evil, 
know  how  to  give  good  gifts  to  your  children,  how 
much  more  shall  your  Heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy 
Spirit   to   them   that   ask  him."     In  like  manner,  the 
apostle  Paul  enjoins  on  the  Philippians — "  Work  out 
your   own   salvation   with   fear   and    tremblinff" — and 
why? — "For  it  is  God  that  worketh  in  you,  both  to  will 
and  to  do,  of  His  good  pleasure."     Here  the  entire  effi- 
ciency and  sovereign  good  pleasure  of  God,  in  the  mat- 
ter of  our  salvation,  is  assigned  as  the  very  reason  why 
we  ourselv^es  should  work  it  out — assigned  as  a  powerful 
encouragement,  as  it   unquestionably  is;  for  what  en- 
couragement to  use  all  our  own  efforts  can  be  so  ani 
mating,  as  the  knowledge  that  we  have  an  Almighty 
Helper  to  aid  us,  and  wliose  good  pleasure  it  is  to  work 
in  us  and  with  us,  and  to  render  our  faithful  endeavors 
successful. 

Among   the  means  for  the  prosecution  of  missions, 
funds  and  missionaries  are  at  once  seen  to  be  essential. 


236  PEESBYTEEIAISr  MISSIONS. 

In  the  foreign  field,  nothing  can  be  done  without  them. 
In  addition  to  what  has  already  been  suggested  on  this 
topic,  let  the  writer  be  permitted  to  express  his  convic- 
tion that  there  has  never  yet  been,  among  the  profes- 
sors of  religion  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  anything 
like  a  general  and  just  estimate  of  the  amount  of  prop- 
erty which  each  individual  ought,  as  a  matter  of  sacred 
duty,  to  dedicate  to  the  Lord.     Some  few  instances  of 
noble   Christian  liberahty   have   been   witnessed;   but 
take  the  church  at  large,  and  probably  not  one  professor 
of  religion   in  fifty  has  done  all  that  an  enlightened 
sense  of  duty  would  have  dictated.     It  is  believed,  how- 
ever, that  penuriousness  in  this  matter  has  been  less 
owing  to  absolute  inherent  avarice  than  to  the  want  of 
considering  the  subject  seriously  and  viewing  it  in  a 
proper  light.     It  cannot  be  discussed  at  any  length  in 
this  sketch,  and  must  be  left  to  be  brought  before  their 
people  by  the  pastors  of  our   churches.     The   great 
point  to  be  carried,  as  before  stated,  is  to  get  it  fixed  in 
the  mind  of  every  professor  of  religion  that  there  is  a 
sacred  duty  to  be  performed  in  this  concern,  and  an  es- 
timate to  be  made,  as  in  the  sight  of  a  heart-searching 
God,  of  what  each  individual  ought  to  give ;  and  then, 
without  unnecessary  delay,  to  give  it  cheerfully  and  sys- 
tematically.    The  want  of  system  in  this  concern  is  one 
great  cause  of  defect  in  the  amount  contributed.    When 
people  give  only  by  impulse  they  think  that  what 
(themselves  being  judges)  is  a  handsome  donation,  made 
now  and  then,  not  only  acquits  them  of  their  obliga- 
tions, but  renders  them  meritorious.     AVhereas  if  they 
would  take  an  account  of  what  the  God  of  providence 
has  put  into  their  hands  as  His  stewards  and  say,  as  in 
view  of   their  last  account,  what   portion   of  it   they 
ought,  annually  or  habitually,  to  render  back  to  Him  as 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS.  237 

a  voluntary  thank-offering,  and  from  a  desire  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  and  build  up  the  kingdom  of  their  Re- 
deemer in  the  world,  it  would  reach  an  amount  far 
beyond  what  is  produced  by  impulse ;  and  be  attended, 
moreover,  by  the  comfort  of  an  easy  mind  and  an  ap- 
proving conscience. 

Generally  speaking,  missionaries  must  be  young  men. 
The  time  may  come  when  some  men  in  middle  life,  or 
beyond  it,  may  be  called  to  quit  places  of  eminence  in  the 
church  at  home  and  go  on  missions.  At  present  we 
look  to  the  pious,  and  talented,  and  educated  youth  of 
our  churches  to  devote  their  lives  to  this  sacred  work. 
"When  any  young  convert,  under  the  constraining  influ- 
ence of  love  to  his  Redeeming  God,  thinks  of  devoting 
his  life  to  the  service  of  that  Redeemer  in  the  Gospel 
ministry,  it  might  be  well,  at  the  present  day,  if  he 
would  immediately  put  the  question  to  himself  whether 
he  is  willing  to  go  out  as  a  missionary  to  the  heathen  ? 
and,  in  like  manner,  young  converts  of  both  sexes,  who 
have  no  prospect  or  thought  of  the  ministerial  vocation, 
may  do  well  to  ask  themselves  whether,  in  the  stations 
for  which  they  are,  or  may  be,  severally  qualified,  they 
are  willing  to  leave  all  for  Christ  and  to  become  instru- 
ments of  making  His  preciousness,  of  which  they  now 
taste  the  sweetness,  known  to  the  perishing  pagans. 
This  would  be  one  good  method  of  bringing  the  genu- 
ineness of  their  conversion  to  the  test,  and  of  impressing 
their  minds,  through  the  whole  of  their  subsequent 
lives,  with  the  unspeakable  importance  of  missionary 
work.  But  nothing  could  be  more  contrary  to  the 
opinion  of  the  writer  than  that  all  who  have  no  personal 
reluctance  to  go,  either  ought  to  go,  or  are  fit  to  go. 
His  judgment  is  that  no  occurrence  could  be  more  dis- 
astrous to  the  church  than  a  heedless  enthusiasm  to  go 


238  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSIONS. 

out  on  missions ;  resembling  that  of  the  crusaders,  to 
dispossess  the  Mohammedan  Saracens  of  the  Holy  Land. 
No,  verily,  while  every  real  convert  ought  to  be  unre- 
servedly devoted  to  the  service  of  God;  and  while  it 
may  be  of  great  use  for  all  to  think  early,  that  they  may 
think  long,  and  at  last  justly,  on  the  subject  of  missions, 
yet  much  meditation,  much  prayer  and  fasting,  and 
much  attention  to  the  aspect  of  Providence,  and  much 
consultation  with  the  most  pious  and  judicious  Chris- 
tians, should  invariably  precede  the  determination  of 
any  individual  to  offer  to  be  a  Christian  missionary. 
Many  may  have  much  of  a  true  missionary  spirit,  and 
yet  may  not  possess  that  bodily  constitution,  or  those 
mental  qualities,  or  that  freedom  from  existing  ties  and 
engagements,  without  which  it  cannot  be  expedient  or 
lawful  to  assume  the  missionary  character.  When  a 
missionary  proves  unfaithful  and  becomes  a  reproach  to 
the  cause,  he  does  it  an  injury  which  cannot  be  calcu- 
lated ;  and  in  the  contemplation  of  which  any  one  who 
thinks  of  being  a  missionary  may  well  tremble.  The 
error,  however,  at  present  is  commonly  found  on  the 
side,  not  of  too  much,  but  of  too  little  zeal ;  and  the 
best  means  that  can  be  devised  ought  to  be  brought  into 
operation  to  impress  the  minds  of  our  theological  stu- 
dents, whether  in  the  public  seminaries  or  under  the  di- 
rection of  private  teachers,  with  the  sacred  obligations 
that  may  be  resting  on  them  to  give  themselves  to  the 
Lord  for  His  service  in  foreign  lands.  Yet  there  ought 
not  to  be  anything  that  virtually  amounts  to  constraint 
or  compulsion  in  this  matter.  For  if  a  missionary's 
whole  will  and  heart  are  not  set  on  his  work  he  will  be 
likely  to  faint  and  desire  to  abandon  it  when  he  comes 
to  encounter  its  difficulties  and  privations.  O  for  a 
host   of  Brainerds  and   Martyns   in  the   Presbyterian 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS.  239 

Church  to  meet  its  present  missionary  exigencies  I  God 
can  raise  them  up,  and  let  His  people  entreat  Him 
earnestly  for  this  inestimable  blessing. 

4.  Faithful  missionaries  ought  to  be  "  esteemed  very 
highly  in  love  for  their  work's  sake ";  and  every  kind- 
ness should  be  shown  them  on  departing  from  our 
shores,  and  every  reasonable  provision  be  made  for  their 
support  in  foreign  lands ;  and  much  sympathy  ought  to 
be  felt  and  many  prayers  to  be  offered  for  them  in  the 
arduous  service  in  which  they  are  employed.  Yet  they 
are  neither  to  be  idolized  nor  flattered.  The  latter,  if  it 
do  not  spoil,  may  greatly  injure  them  ;  and  the  former 
may  provoke  God  to  cut  short  their  days ;  to  show  us 
that  no  particular  instrument  is  necessary  to  the  execu- 
tion of  His  purposes ;  and  that  He  can  form  at  pleasure 
snch  agents  as  His  work  requires.  One  of  the  kindest 
things  that  can  be  done  for  missionaries  is  to  make 
some  provision  for  their  widows  and  children  when 
they  are  removed  by  death ;  and  for  themselves  when 
sickness  or  a  broken  constitution  compels  them  to  leave 
the  missionary  field.  To  this  important  object  it  is 
hoped  that  in  due  time  the  requisite  regard  will  be 
shown. 

5.  We  ought  not  to  calculate  that  great  and  speedy 
success  will  follow  our  missionary  enterprises.  The  in- 
struction of  ignorant,  debased,  and  vicious  heathen  must 
in  the  nature  of  things,  require  considerable  time ;  and 
after  they  are  instructed  God  may  see  meet  to  put  our 
faith  and  patience  to  a  prolonged  and  painful  trial ;  and 
yet,  if  we  persevere,  He  may  eventually  crown  a  mis- 
sion, which  seemed  to  be  most  unpromising,  with  the 
most  signal  success.  So  it  was  in  the  mission  that  was 
fitted  out,  under  the  most  flattering  auspices,  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands.     Years  on  years  elapsed  without  a 


240  PRESBTTEKIAN  MISSIONS. 

single  convert  being  made,  and  disaster  after  disaster 
befell  the  mission.     Yet  at  last  it  seemed  as  if  the  pro- 
phetic interrogatory,  "  shall  a  nation  be  born  at  once  ? " 
was  going  to  be  answered  affirmatively.     An  adverse 
tide  has  since  set  in  on  that  mission  by  the  criminal  and 
reproachful  conduct  of  men  calling  themselves  Chris- 
tians ;  but  the  evil  is  at  length  abated,  if  not  removed, 
and  most  exemplary  Christian  churches  are  there  estab- 
lished.    Something  of  a   similar  kind  has  often  hap- 
pened.    It   appears  by  the  foregoing  sketch  that  the 
gloiious  success  which  ultimately  rewarded  the  labors 
of  our  own  Brainerd  did  not  take  place  till  even  his 
faith  and  hope  seemed  on  the  point  of  extinction.     Let 
us  beware,  then,  of  prescribing  to  a  sovereign  God.     If 
He  grants  speedy  success  to  a  particular  mission,  let  us 
receive  it  with  lively  and  humble  thankfulness ;  and  if, 
in  another  mission,  or  in  all  the  missions  we  send  out, 
He  for  a  time  grants  no  success,  but  even  seems  to 
frown,  as  He  has  done  on  our  African  mission,  let  us 
bow  and  adore  His  holy  sovereignty  ;  but  let  us  not  de- 
spond or  be  impatient — "  In  due  time  we  shall  reap  if 
we  faint  not." 

6.  In  managing  the  missionary  concerns  at  home 
there  certainly  ought  to  be  as  strict  an  economy  in  the 
use  of  missionary  funds  as  an  enlightened  regard  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  general  cause  will  permit.  To  waste 
or  misapply  these  funds  would  be  a  species  of  sacrilege ; 
and  the  more  gratuitous  services  that  are  freely  offered 
the  better ;  provided  there  be  a  reasonable  prospect  that 
such  services,  should  they  be  accepted,  will  be  really 
advantageous.  But  it  is  not  true  economy  to  grudge  a 
reasonable  and  liberal  compensation  to  those  who  give 
up  other  employments  and  devote  all  their  time  and 
talents  without  reservation  to  the  faithful  service  of  the 


CONCLUDIIfG  EEMAEKS.  241 

Society ;  because  without  such  a  compensation  the  best 
services,  as  all  experience  shows,  cannot  be  secured; 
nor  the  real  interests  of  the  Society,  even  in  pecuniary 
matters,   be  best  promoted.     Parsimony   here  is   real 
prodigality.     There  ought  also  to  be  a  reasonable  confi- 
dence cheerfully  granted  to  those  who  manage  the  con- 
cerns of  the  Society  ;  because  without  it  they  cannot  act 
with  the  freedom  and  promptitude  which  the  exigency 
of  affairs  may  sometimes  imperiously  demand.     On  the 
other  hand,  the  officers  of  the  Society  ought  to  practice 
no  concealment,  nor  violate  any  order  of  the  Board,  nor 
fail  to  take  advice,  when  it  can  be  easily  and  seasonably 
obtained.     It  is  most  desirable  that  all  seeking  of  fame, 
all  regard  to  great  worldly  emolument,  and  all  craving 
of  office,  should  be   forever  eschewed   and  cautiously 
guarded   against  by  those   who   are  concerned  in   the 
management  of  missions.     There  are  some  trusts  and 
stations  of  responsibility  which  those  who  covet  and 
take  pains  to  obtain  are  commonly  the  least  fit  to  hold  ; 
and  in  the  sacred  missionary  cause  it  may  safely  be  as- 
sumed as  a  general  principle  that  the  best  men  to  be 
entrusted  with  its  precious  and  often  dehcate  concerns 
must  be  sought  for  before  they  are  found ;  that  is,  they 
will  not  ordinarily  present  themselves  as  candidates  for 
office,  but   only   yield,  and  often  with  diffidence  and 
trembling,  to  the  opinions  of  their  brethren.     If  the 
management  of  our  missionary  affairs  ever  becomes  an 
object  of  worldly  or  secular  ambition,  rely  upon  it, 
Ichabod  will  be  inscribed  upon  them. 

Such  are  the  remarks  which  the  author  of  the  fore- 
going sketch  has  ventured  to  submit  to  his  brethren,  in 
terminating  one  of  the  last  services  that  he  can  reason- 
ably hope  to  render  to  the  Church  of  Christ. 


APPENDICES. 


PKESBTTERIAN  FOREIGN  TtHSSIONARIES. 

Appointed  in  1741.     Rev.  Azariali  Horton,  r.  in  1750. 
1742.     Rev.  David  Brainerd,  died  in  1747. 
1748.     Rev.  John  Brainerd,  died  in  1780. 
1763.     Rev.  Sampson  Occuni,  an  Indian  employed  for 

several  years  among  various  tribes. 
1803.     Rev.  Gideon  Blackbui-n. 
1806.     Rev.  Joseph  Badger. 
The  preceding  list  is  far  from  complete. 

APPOINTED   IN    1832    TO    1838   INCLUSIVE. 

To  Indian  3Iissions  : 

Rev.  W.  Bushnell  and  his  wife,  1833-1835,  r.* 

Rev.  Joseph  Kerr  and  his  wife,  1833-1837,  r.* 

Rev.  John  Fleming,  1837-1839,  r. 
*Mrs.  Fleming,  1837-1839. 

Rev.  Peter  Dougherty  and  his  wife,  1838-1871,  r. 
♦Rev.  William  Hamilton,  1837-1891. 
*Mrs.  JuUa  McG.  Hamilton,  1837-1868. 

Mrs.  Hamilton,  1869-1891,  r. 

Rev.  S.  M.  Irvin  and  his  wife,  1837-1864,  r* 

Mr.  Henry  M.  Bradley  and  his  wife,  1834-1841,  r. 

Mr.  F.  H.  Lindsay,  1835-1836,  r. 

Mr.  Ehhu  M.  Shepherd,  1834-1835,  r. 

Mr.  Aurey  Ballard  and  his  wife,  1835-1837,  r. 


*  Died.  In  the  Mission,  If  ♦  prefixed.  After  resigning,  if  *  appended, 
r.  Resigned  or  returned. 

(248) 


244  APPENDICES. 

Miss  Martha  Boal,  1833-1834,  r. 

Miss  Nancy  Henderson,  1833-1836,  r* 
To  African  Missions,  Liberia  : 
*Kev.  Joseph  W.  Barr,  1832. 

Kev.  John  B.  Pinney,  1833-1835,  1839-1840,  r.* 
*Eev.  John  Cloud,  1833-1834. 
*Rev.  Matthew  Laird  and  his  wife,  1833-1834. 

Mr.  James  Temple,!  1833-1834,  r. 

Mr.  F.  J.  C.  Finley,  1834-1835,  r. 

Mr.  E.  Tj-tler,!  1837-1839,  r. 
To  Missions  in  India : 

*Rev.  William  Eeed,  1833-1834. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Reed,  1833-1835,  r* 

Rev.  John  C.  Lowrie,  1833-1838,  r. 
*Mrs.  Louisa  A.  Lowrie,  died  in  Calcutta,  November 
21,  1833. 

Rev.  James  Wilson  and  his  wife,  1835-1851,  r.* 
*Rev.  John  Newton,  1835- 1891. 
*Mrs.  Elizabeth  Newton,  1835-1857. 

Mrs.  Newton,  1866-1891,  r. 

Miss  Julia  Davis,  1835,  r.* 

Rev.  James  McEwen  and  his  wife,  1836-1838,  n* 
*Rev.  James  R.  CampbeU,  1836-1862. 
*Mrs.  James  R.  Campbell,  1836-1873. 

Rev.  Jesse  M.  Jamieson,  1836-1857,  r. 
*Mrs.  Rebecca  Jamieson,  1886-1845. 
*Mrs.  E.  McL.  Jamieson,  1848-1856. 
*Rev.  Joseph  Porter,  1836-1853. 
*Mrs.  Porter,  1836-1842. 

Rev.  Y/illiam  S.  Rogers  and  his  wife,  1836-1843,  r.* 

Rev.  Heniy  R.  Wilson  and  his  wife,  1838-1846,  r.* 
*Rev.  John  H.  Morrison,  1838-1881. 
*Mrs.  Anna  M.  Morrison,  died  in  Calcutta,  April  27, 

1838. 
*Rev.  Joseph  Caldwell,  1838-1877. 

t  Colored. 


APPENDICES.  246 

♦Mrs.  Jane  Caldwell,  1838-1839,  Nov.  8th. 
Mrs.  Caldwell,  1842. 
♦IVIr.  James  Craig,  teacher,  1838-1845. 
Mrs.  J.  Craig,  1838-1846,  r. 
Mr.  Kees  Morris,  printer,  and  his  wife,  1838-1845,  r. 

To  Mission  for  China  : 

Kev.  Kobert  Orr  and  his  wife,  1838-1841,  r* 
*Rev.  John  A.  Mitchell,  1838. 
Other  missionaries  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  were 
sent  out  by  the  American  Board,  in  the  years  from  1832- 
1838,  so  far  as  recollected,  viz. : 

Rev.  and  jNIrs.  John  B.  Adger,  to  a  Mediterranean 

field,  r. 
Rev.  and  ]\Irs.  James  R.  Eckard,  to  Ceylon,  r* 
Rev.  Matthew  B.  Hope,  to  Singapore,  r* 
Rev.   J.   Leighton   and  IMrs.   Wilson,   to  Western 

Africa,  r.* 
Rev.  W.  M.  Thomson,  to  Syria,  1833-1877,  r. 
*Mrs.  Thomson,  1833-1873. 
Rev.  Elias  Riggs,  to  Turkey,  1834-. 
*Rev.  Asher  Wright,  to  Senecas,  1820-1875. 
*Mr3.  Wright,  1833-1886. 
Rev.  Wilham  HaU,  1834-. 
*Mrs.  Hall,  1834-1882. 

*Rev.  J.  S.  Williamson,  M.D.,  to  Dakotas,  1835-1879. 
*Mrs.  Williamson,  1835-1872. 

Messrs.  Thomson,  Wright,  Hall,  and  Williamson  were 
received  by  transfer  from  the  American  Boai'd  in 
1870. 


n. 

BOOKS  OF  EEFEEENCE. 

General  :  The  Assembly's  Digest,  1820. 

Dr.  S.  J.  Baird's  Digest  G.  A.,  second  edition,  1858. 

Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly,  1789-1840. 

Minutes   of   the   Synod   of   Pittsburgh,    1802-1832, 
printed  in  1852. 

Minutes,  in  manuscript,  of  the  Board  of  Trust,  1804- 
1826. 

Minutes,  in  manuscriiDt,  of  the  Western  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  1831-1837. 

Minutes,  in  manuscript,  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, 1837-1838. 

Western  Missionary  Magazine,  two  vols.,  1803-1805. 

Foreign  Missionary  Chronicle,  seventeen  volumes, 
1833-1850. 

American  Missionary  Kegister,  six  volumes,  1817- 
1822.    Z.  Lewis,  Esq.,  editor. 

Sketches  of  Virginia  and  of  North  Carolina,  and  their 
Synods,  containing  in  part,  the  Minutes  of  the 
Synods,  two  volumes,  1846,  1850,  by  Bev.  W.  H. 
Foote,  D.D. 

Old  Bedstone.     Bev.  Dr.  J.  Smith,  1854. 

Presbyterian  Centennial  Convention,  Pittsburgh,  1876, 
(with  Missionary  History  of  Bev.  E.  E.  Swift,  D.D.) 

History  of  the  Presbytery  of  AVashington,  1889,  by 
Bev.  W.  F.  Hamilton,  D.D.  (Notices  and  portraits 
of  missionaries  ;  and  Sketch  of  Missions,  by  Bev. 
W.  H  Lester,  D.D.) 

Memoirs  of  Bev.  David  Brainerd.     New  York. 

Memoirs  of  Bev.  EHsha  McCurdy,  D.D.,  1849,  by 
Bev.  David  Elliott,  D.D. 
(246) 


APPENDICES.  247 

Historical  Sketches  of  India  Missions— Semi-Cen- 
tennial.     Allahabad  Press,  18S4. 

Historical  Sketches  of  Presbyterian  Missions.  Third 
edition,  1891,  by  Women's  F.  M.  Society,  Philadel- 
phia, 

Dr.  J.  Warren's  Missionary  Life  in  North  India,  1862. 

Mi's.  H.  H.  Holcomb's  Bits  of  Missionary  Work  in 
India,  1886. 
Special— by  missionaries,  or  relating  to  them,  appointed 
from  1832-1838. 

Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Barr,  by  Rev.  E.  P. 
SNvift,  D.D.,  1833. 

Memoir  of  Mrs.  Louisa  A.  Lowrie,  by  Rev.  A.  G. 
Fairchild,  D.D.,1834.  London  edition,  with  intro- 
duction on  Woman's  Work  in  Missions,  by  Rev. 
W.  H.  Pearce,  1835. 

Memoir  of  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Morrison,  by  Rev.  Dr.  E.  J. 
Richards,  New  York,  1839. 

Dictionary  in  Goormookhee,  Sikh  language,  by  Rev. 
John  Newton,  D.D.     Lodiana  Press. 

The  Bible  translated  into  Goormookhee,  Sikh  language, 
and  many  tracts  in  Hindustani  and  other  languages, 
by  Rev.  John  Newton,  D.D.,  and  the  other  mis- 
sionaries. 

Missions  in  Hindustan,  by  Rev.  J.  R.  Campbell,  D.D. 
PhHadelphia,  1852. 

Travels  in  North  India,  Philadelphia,  1842.  The  same 
under  the  title  of  Two  Years  in  Upper  India,  New 
York,  1850.  Presbj-terian  Missions,  New  York; 
Third  edition,  1868.  Missionary  Papers,  New  York, 
1882.  By  Rev.  John  C.  Lowrie. 
The  Land  of  Sinim,  by  Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowiie. 


INDEX  OF  SUPPLEMENTAL  NOTES. 


PAGE 

Africa,  to  Central  via  Libe- 
ria   123 

Discouragements 124 

Doors  opening 125 

Agents,  Collecting  or  Field.  187 
Alexander,  Rev.  J,  Addison, 

D.D 183 

Andrews,  Rev.  John 186 

Books  of  reference 246 

Bundelkhund,  as  a  mission 
field 128 

Calcutta,  as  a  mission  sta- 
tion   182 

The  purpose  relinquished.  183 

Lessons  learned 131 

Missionaries     and     other 

friends 132 

Cordial  intercourse  among 

missionaries 132 

Interdenominational  trou- 
bles, none 183 

Chief  work  of  missionaries  185 
Exceptionable  theories. . .  138 

Painful  sights 139 

Campbell,  Rev.  James  R. . .  164 

Chavis,  Rev.  John 7 

Chinese    metallic    divisible 

types 178 

Christian  union  and  co-oper- 
ation, the  true  idea  of. .  134 
Cornplanter  Indians,   1814, 

1392 37 

(248) 


PAOB 

Green,  Rev.  Ashbel,  D.D.     vi 

Herron,  Rev.  Francis,  D.D.  110 

India,  population  nearly 
300,000,000  ;  in  deep  igno- 
rance as  Pagans  or  Mo- 
hammedans ;  mostly  in 
bondage  to  caste ;  some 
Anglo  -  Hindu  students  ; 
Christian  converts  increas- 
ing ;  great  changes ;  gen- 
eral outlook  hopeful.  .131-140 

Lenox,  Mr.  James 178 

Lowrie,  Hon.  Walter 156 

Magazine,  "Western  Mis- 
sionary, 1803-1805 186 

Missionary   Chronicle,   The 

Foreign,  1833-1850 184 

McCurdy,  Rev.  Elisha,  D.D.    75 
McEwen,  Rev.  Jas.  and  Mrs.  165 
Missions  abroad,  theory  of.     96 
Missions,     United    Foreign 
Society :  its  plan  of  union  ; 
its  pecuniary  basis ;  how 
the  Society  ended ;    two 

things  in  its  course 65-68 

Missions,  Synodical 69-83^ 

In  Virginia 69 

the  Carolinas 69 

"Western    Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio 73 


INDEX  OP  SUPPLEMENTAL   NOTES. 


249 


PAGE 

Missions,  in  Indian  work. . .    73 

In  Domestic  work 75 

Itinerant  usefulness 76 

Women's    work,    then 

and  now •  •  •    77 

A  home-life  incident. . .    77 

Great  success 83 

Lessons  taught 82 

Missions,  Western  Foreign 
Society ;  executive  offi- 
cers  106-112 

Adverse  action  of  G  A. . .  201 
Sources  of  complete  infor- 
mation   201 

Directors'  circular  letter. .  202 
Last  minutes  W.  F.  M.  S. 

214-320 
Its    missions,     property, 
etc.,  all  transferred  to 

theB.  P.  M 219,  220 

Final  action  of  the  G.  A. 

221-223 
The  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions appointed 221 

Its  constitution 221-323 

Its  first  meeting 236 

The  missions  and  property 
of  the  Society  transfer- 
red to  the  Board  and 
accepted  by  it ;  also,  la- 
ter, the  Central  and 
Southern  Boards ;  the 
city  of  New  York 
chosen  for  the  offices 
of  the  Board ;  a  solemn 


PAQB 

acknowledgment  of  the 
favors  and  blessings  of 
God,      recorded ;      the 

Board  adjourned 226 

The  missionary  discussions 
in  the  G.  A.  able  and  earn- 
est, but  not  partisan,  224. 
The  position,  225.  Semi- 
annual meetings  of  the 
Board,  not  continued,  228. 

Presbytery  of  Lodiana . . .  148 
Presbytery  or ' '  Mission  "  ? . .  149 

RAM3ionuN  Roy,  eminent 
in  "comparative"  Hindu 
learning 136 

Soma JAS  or  Societies 136 

Spurgeon's  ' '  I  hate  the  sci- 
ence of  comparative  the- 
ology"     135 

Sir   Monier  Williams,    Dr. 
Chas.  Hodge,  our  blessed 
Saviour,  on  such  subjects.  136 
Seneca    and    other    Indian 

missions 50 

Stuart,  Mr.  George  H 164 

Swift,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  P.. .  106,  202 

Wilson  and  Newton,  Rev. 
Messrs.,  and  their  fam- 
ilies  147,148 

Wylie,  Rev.  Dr.  T.  W.  J.. . .  614 


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